United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Jared P Sass

James E Fesmire

Martha K Williams

Erik S Weiser

Trent M Smith

Wesley L Johnson

A test apparatus for evaluating thermal properties of a test specimen across a wide range of thermal conductivities and temperature ranges using a flat plate cup cryostat. The test apparatus includes: a heater assembly having an upper surface to receive a test specimen; a cold plate positioned on top of the test specimen; a vessel comprising an outer cylindrical tube closed on a bottom end by the cold plate; an inner cylindrical tube concentrically received in an upper portion of the outer cylindrical tube above the vessel to vent the vessel; insulation material surrounding at least the heater assembly, test specimen, cold plate, and vessel; a sensor that detects boiloff or evaporation rate of liquid from the vessel vented from the inner cylindrical tube; temperature sensors positioned to detect temperatures of the heater assembly and the cold plate; and a data recording device to record the boiloff or evaporation rates and temperature values.

Cup cryostat thermal conductivity analyzer

The invention involves composite materials containing a polymer foam and an aerogel. The composite materials have improved thermal insulation ability, good acoustic insulation, and excellent physical mechanical properties. The composite materials can be used, for instance, for heat and acoustic insulation on aircraft, spacecraft, and maritime ships in place of currently used foam panels and other foam products. The materials of the invention can also be used in building construction with their combination of light weight, strength, elasticity, ability to be formed into desired shapes, and superior thermal and acoustic insulation power. The materials have also been found to have utility for storage of cryogens. A cryogenic liquid or gas, such as Nor H, adsorbs to the surfaces in aerogel particles. Thus, another embodiment of the invention provides a storage vessel for a cryogen.

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Rockledge, FL, United States of America

Jared P Sass