Q: Good Insulating Material?

[yosuke188]

Yes, this is a design project for school, and I would like your input.

I have to create a container that holds half a liter of water and insulate it very well.

It should be relatively light and small in size.

I was thinking a box made of light wood with aluminum foil interior.

What do you think? Any suggestions will be appreciated

 

[Rastus]

Cork

 

[Kirby64]

Aerogel?

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: Kirby64
Aerogel?

this seems to work perfectly if I can make a container out of it. Any way to do that?

 

[Howard]

Can't you wrap it?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

vacuum

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: yosuke188

Originally posted by: Kirby64
Aerogel?

this seems to work perfectly if I can make a container out of it. Any way to do that?

A lot of money. That crap is expensive. Link 2.


What is the budget for this project? What level course is it - first, second, what year?

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: yosuke188

Originally posted by: Kirby64
Aerogel?

this seems to work perfectly if I can make a container out of it. Any way to do that?

A lot of money. That crap is expensive. Link 2.

Well, there goes that idea.

edit: There is not set budget, but it should be kept at a minimal.

 

[imported_Imp]

Vacuum or still air. I'm learning about this crap now except for buildings. Just go look up a chart for thermal conductance(?).

 

[bonkers325]

cork, feathers, ceramics

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: Imp
Vacuum or still air. I'm learning about this crap now except for buildings. Just go look up a chart for thermal conductance(?).

Lets just assume vacuum is impossible. How do you suppose I get still air to contain water?

 

[RU482]

two plastic containers, one fits inside the other + 1 can of expanding sealer

 

[Tiamat]

Container within a container. Do wood inside, wood chips filler, then larger wood outside.

Plastic inside the inside wood.

 

[Squisher]

Foam insulation like Good Stuff?

I had a monitor wrapped in plastic shipped to me in the stuff.

 

[Jeff7]

Check out a sewing supply store and get either quilt batting or stuffing for plush animals. It's like fiberglass, but isn't. Is anything fluffy like that specifically prohibited?


Try to construct the container so that the mouth is more narrow than the rest - that would minimize the contact area the water would have with the air or the lid of the container.


A vacuum would be good as others have suggested, but on the budget it seems like you've got, maintaining a good seal, while producing a container that is structurally capable of sustaining the ~14.7psi of air pressure, just doesn't seem too likely.

Go buy a Thermos. A good designer knows when to use standard components.

 

[CaptnKirk]

double container - an air gap between them, like a thermos bottle.

 

[yosuke188]

I'm liking the container within a container idea.

Now keep in mind this has to be of minimal weight and size.

So what do you guys suggest I use for the 2 layers of containment?

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: yosuke188
I'm liking the container within a container idea.

Now keep in mind this has to be of minimal weight and size.

So what do you guys suggest I use for the 2 layers of containment?

can do you something like this?

Plastic bottle surround by sponges within a balsa wood box

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: yosuke188
I'm liking the container within a container idea.

Now keep in mind this has to be of minimal weight and size.

So what do you guys suggest I use for the 2 layers of containment?

can do you something like this?

Plastic bottle surround by sponges within a balsa wood box

The plastic bottle I think is ideal, but I thought it was better to leave it surrounded by just air instead of stuffing something in between.

I gotta go finish my HW and get to bed, but I'll check back tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it very much.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: yosuke188

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: yosuke188
I'm liking the container within a container idea.

Now keep in mind this has to be of minimal weight and size.

So what do you guys suggest I use for the 2 layers of containment?

can do you something like this?

Plastic bottle surround by sponges within a balsa wood box

The plastic bottle I think is ideal, but I thought it was better to leave it surrounded by just air instead of stuffing something in between.

I gotta go finish my HW and get to bed, but I'll check back tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it very much.

yeah, but you are dealing with real world here. The contact area of a dry sponge is very tiny (it is mostly air for all intents and purposes) but it gives good support so that you can attach the outer container

Outer container could be plastic as well. Or you can fill the inbetween with wood chips as wood has a pretty low thermal conductivity

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

air?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: yosuke188

Originally posted by: Imp
Vacuum or still air. I'm learning about this crap now except for buildings. Just go look up a chart for thermal conductance(?).

Lets just assume vacuum is impossible. How do you suppose I get still air to contain water?

How is vacuum impossible? It's done all the time.

Air would be done the same way.

If you can't take the fragility of glass, use polished SS/thin layer of air/polished SS.

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: yosuke188

Originally posted by: Imp
Vacuum or still air. I'm learning about this crap now except for buildings. Just go look up a chart for thermal conductance(?).

Lets just assume vacuum is impossible. How do you suppose I get still air to contain water?

How is vacuum impossible? It's done all the time.

Air would be done the same way.

If you can't take the fragility of glass, use polished SS/thin layer of air/polished SS.

You would first need a machine to create a vacuum, and then you need a material that can withstand the atmospheric pressure... I don't think I have the budget to do that.

The bottle idea seems to work the best, surrounded by some sponge/woodchip for support, and then a layer of something on the outside to contain all of that.

Thanks again for all your input.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Any material with a lot of air in it will work as good insulator. I know you said no fiberglass, but have you considered carbon black or silica microballons? I think the silica might work especially well due to the relatively high quotient of air. Throw a bunch of microballoons in some resin (e.g., an epoxy such as one of the EPON resins), force the mess into a mold of the desired shape (note:use a mold release agent, EPON is a B!tch to work with without it), and VOILA!

http://www.epoxyproducts.com/2_fillers.html

 

[0roo0roo]

can spray foam insulation from hardware store?