Cryogenic insulation
Cryogenic insulation
(OP)
I need to make up a cryogenic bath about 10 cm cubed filled with liquid nitrogen for some electromagnetic experiments. Ideally in an electrically insulating medium.
One of the side faces of bath must be flat in order to allow devices inside bath to be in close proximity to external apparatus. The remaining flat faces and top and bottom can be thermally insulated.
Are there any recommended insulation materials available specifically suited to cryogenic applications?
I am picturing some thick foam material with reflective foil backing that I can cut into slabs and fix around bath. There seem to be many different products out there however I am not sure which to choose.
Experiments should be reasonably brief and I figure remaining nitrogen will be drained and returned to storage dewar after 30 mins.
Thanks in advance.
One of the side faces of bath must be flat in order to allow devices inside bath to be in close proximity to external apparatus. The remaining flat faces and top and bottom can be thermally insulated.
Are there any recommended insulation materials available specifically suited to cryogenic applications?
I am picturing some thick foam material with reflective foil backing that I can cut into slabs and fix around bath. There seem to be many different products out there however I am not sure which to choose.
Experiments should be reasonably brief and I figure remaining nitrogen will be drained and returned to storage dewar after 30 mins.
Thanks in advance.





RE: Cryogenic insulation
http://www.aerogel.com/markets/industrial.html
Single layer cellular glass may crack from the thermal shock so I'd probably go with a PIR/PUR foam in accordance with ASTM C591. For 30 minutes you shouldn't really have to get into deep thermal conductivity calculations.
Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04
RE: Cryogenic insulation
There are lots of aerogel-based insulation products, including VIPs:
http://www.glacierbay.com/insulation_ultra_r.asp
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Cryogenic insulation
RE: Cryogenic insulation
In terms of cost you'll be spending $3 – $10 per square foot. It's really only practical for very high or low temperature applications that demand high performance.
Our research indicated that current uses include insulating undersea oil pipelines and in some aerospace applications.
Here is some additional information.
http