Thermal conductivity measurements on xonotlite-type calcium silicate by the transient hot-strip method

The experimental results of the thermal conductivities of xonotlite-type calcium silicate insulation materials were presented at different temperatures and pressures. Two appropriative surroundings, i.e. an elevated temperature surrounding from ambient temperature to 1450 K and a vacuum surrounding from atmosphere pressure to 10⁻³ Pa, were designed for the transient hot-strip (THS) method. The thermal conductivities of xonotlite-type calcium silicate with four densities from ambient temperature to 1000 K and 0.045 Pa to atmospheric pressure were measured. The results show that the thermal conductivity of xonotlite-type calcium silicate decreases apparently with the fall of density, and decreases apparently with the drop of pressure, and reaches the least value at about 100 Pa. The thermal conductivity of xonotlite-type calcium silicate increases almost linearly with T³, and increases more abundantly with low density than with high density. The thermal conductivity measurement uncertainty is estimated to be approximately 3% at ambient temperature, and 6% at 800 K.