Comparison of thermal conductivity measurement methods for reprocessed EVA material sheets

ABSTRACT This study aims to analyze and compare two methods for measuring the thermal conductivity of EVA sheets obtained from reprocessed industrial scraps. The experiments were conducted using a cylindrical wall method and a flat plate propagation method to evaluate their cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and compliance with current standards. Results indicate that the cylindrical wall method is more cost-efficient (($0.042) compared to the flat plate method (($1.25). However, the flat plate method better simulates real conditions by providing the necessary time for thermal equilibrium. The lowest thermal conductivity was observed in the thin blanket (TNB) configuration (0.66 W/m°C), whereas the highest conductivity was noted in the configuration with two thick blankets (2TKB) (42.4 W/m°C). Both methods showed consistency with existing standards, with further calibration required using standard insulation materials. These findings suggest that the tested Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sheets (EVA) sheets are viable thermal insulators with satisfactory attenuation properties.