The effect of temperature on thermal performance of fumed silica based Vacuum Insulation Panels for buildings

Vacuum Insulation Panels are characterized by very low thermal conductivity, which makes them alluring for building and civil sectors. However, considering the structure and composition of these materials, their application in buildings may be defined by a number of issues which need to be properly taken into account. The real performance of VIPs can be influenced by the boundary conditions (e.g. temperature) at which they work during their operation. In this paper experimental analyses aimed at characterising the relationship between the centre of panel thermal conductivity and average temperature were carried out. The experiments were performed on two VIP samples with different thickness. Moreover a comparison with non-evacuated panels and a traditional insulating material was performed. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.