The impact of pore structure parameters on the thermal conductivity of porous building blocks

This study examines the interacting influence of different pore structure parameters on the thermal conductivity of porous building blocks with pores of micrometer and nanometer magnitudes. A first exploratory study varies the pore structure parameters over a wide spectrum, and reveals that total porosity and matrix conductivity are most dominant. A second selective study applies high total porosities and low matrix conductivities to assess the secondary parameters. But this study confirms the dominant character of total porosity and matrix conductivity, with substantial secondary influences of gas conductivity and radiative properties. In all investigations, the average pore size and the pore size distribution appears as (far) less important.