Thermal properties of sandwiches for applications in transportation

Abstract

Composite sandwich structures are often used in the transportation industry as floors, roofs or parts of internal or external skeletons of buses, trains or trams. Compared to a monolithic composite there are a number of advantages which are apparent. Especially the low weight, higher rigidity, faster installation, better thermal insulation and good acoustic properties make it such an advantageous material. It is especially lower weight higher rigidity, faster installation, better thermal insulation and good acoustic properties. The paper deals with the measurement of the specific heat capacity, diffusivity and thermal conductivity of sandwiches differing in “core” material and a lining “skin” materials. As a “core” material the PET foam Airex T90.100, honeycomb type CORMASTER and natural cork material under the trade name CORECORK NL10 was used. As a coating phenolic prepreg and a composite material based on polyester/glass was used. All sandwiches under investigation have very low thermal conductivity as well as diffusivity.