Effect of microstructure and physical parameters of hollow glass microsphere on insulation performance

Hollow glass microsphere (HGM) is a special type of inorganic functional powder with wide applications. HGM can be applied in the insulation area as fillers owing to the hollow structure that is not conductive to the transfer of heat. The mechanism of heat transfer in HGM is analyzed and the thermal conductivity is proved to be the main heat transfer. Then a simple model comprised of continuous solid phase and independent gas phase is proposed to study the methods for decreasing the thermal conductivity of the filled system through the methods of reducing the density of HGM or increasing the stacking coefficient of HGM. This work provides actual guidance for the design and controlled preparation of composite materials with hollow glass microspheres as functional filler.