Thermal Diffusivity Measurements on Insulation Materials with the Laser Flash Method

An iterative approach is adopted to determine the thermal diffusivity of the xonotlite-type calcium silicate insulation material with very low thermal conductivity. The measurements were performed with a conventional laser flash apparatus by rear-face detection of the temperature response of the three-layered sample, where the insulating material is sandwiched between two iron slices. In the evaluation of the thermal conductivity, the theoretical curve is fitted to the complete temperature–time curve, instead of just using the t1/2 point. The theoretical model is based on the thermal quadrupole method. The nonlinear parameter estimation technique is used to estimate simultaneously the thermal diffusivity, heat transfer coefficient, and absorbed energy. Based on experimental results, the optimal thickness range of the insulation material in the sample is indicated as 1.6 to 1.9 mm. The effects of the uncertainties of the thicknesses, contact resistance, and thermophysical properties of the three layers on the measurement uncertainty are estimated, giving an overall uncertainty in the thermal conductivity of approximately 7.5%.