Laboratory and field investigations of moisture absorption and its effect on thermal performance of various insulations
The moisture performance characteristics of various thermal insulations under laboratory conditions and under actual field conditions are reported. The various moisture effects, such as freeze-thaw cycling in the presence of water, water absorption, and water vapor transmission, which occur in insulations in upside-down roof systems and below-grade applications, reduced the thermal efficiency of all insulations tested. This loss of thermal resistance of the common insulating materials using both laboratory methods and field data is related to the volume of water present in the insulations. The minimum performance criteria for insulations exposed to the various laboratory test methods and to actual field conditions are also discussed. The insulations investigated include fiber glass, fiberboard, expanded (bead) polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polyurethanes, and cellular glass. The effect of various top coverings for upside-down roof applications on the thermal resistance performance of insulation is also discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Dow Chemical Co., Granville, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 6527729
- Report Number(s):
- ASTM-STP-660; CONF-770936-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States) Vol. 660; ISSN ASTTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320000* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360604 -- Materials-- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
ADSORPTION
BUILDINGS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIBERGLASS
FIELD TESTS
FOAMS
GLASS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MEASURING METHODS
MOISTURE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYURETHANES
POLYVINYLS
ROADS
ROOFS
SORPTION
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TESTING
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL CYCLING
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES