Infrared Thermal Imaging-Based Thermal Diffusivity Measurement Using Angstrom Method

Abstract

Characterizing the thermal diffusivity of materials is a vital step in the creation of new polymer nanocomposites. Determining the in-plane thermal diffusivity as compared to the through-plane thermal diffusivity may show the effectiveness of a material for a given application. Through experimentation and trial of various materials, an experimental setup is developed for use with Angstrom method to determine in-plane thermal diffusivity of samples using an infrared (thermography) camera with data gathering capabilities. Development of various elements of the experimental setup—such as a 3D printed stage to hold samples—is discussed, along with an explanation of data analysis methods. Data gathered showed that the setup yielded accurate thermal diffusivity of polypropylene samples (~0.164 mm^2/s at approximately 33 °C) within ~10% of published values at that temperature. These results were further validated through laser flash analysis. 3D printed PLA samples were also characterized, and lessons learned from those measurements are discussed along with implications for the experimental technique.