Investigation of Thermal Properties of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca ) and Mfang Aya (Thaumatococcus daniellii) as Thermal Radiation Insulator

Abstract

Thermal properties of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) and Mfang Aya (Thaumatococcus daniellii)) were determined using the steady state method. In this study the mean thermal conductivity of Musa paradisiaca was found to be 0.0374 Wm^-1K^-1 with a mean bulk density of 200.0 kg/m³ while Thaumatococcus daniellii shows a mean thermal conductivity of 0.0427Wm^-1K^-1with a mean bulk density of 287.0 kgm^-3. The mean specific heat capacity of Musa paradisiaca was obtained as 2606.5 Jkg^-1K ^-1 for density range of 0.146-0.237kg/m³ while mean specific heat capacity of Thaumatococcus daniellii is 1041.9 Jkg^-1K^-1for density 0.211-0.365kg/m³ and the heat transfer models for the material are also obtained. The thermal properties values obtained show similarities with other local materials which previously have been observed to be good thermal insulators, hence Musa paradisiaca and Thaumatococcus daniellii are encouraged to be seen as potential thermal insulators.

Keywords: Thermal properties , Musa Paradisiaca, Thaumatococcus daniellii, Thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and bulk density.