Equivalent Thermal Conductivity of Open-Cell Ceramic Foams at High Temperatures

At high temperature, heat transfer in open-cell foams occurs by thermal radiation through the whole medium as well as by conduction through the solid matrix and air filling the pores. This paper applies the body-centered cubic cell model to predict radiative properties and the thermal conductivity of the open-cell foams. The model is validated by comparing the results with previous published works. Effects of structural characteristic parameters (cell diameter and porosity) and optical properties of the solid matrix (reflectivity and specularity parameter) on extinction coefficients and the radiative conductivity are discussed. The influence of temperature on the thermal conductivities including the effective, radiative, and the equivalent conductivity of open-cell ceramic foams are analyzed.