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The purposes of this experiment was to determine the change in the freezing time of water when an interlaced material is introduced into the system. The interlaced material chosen for this experiment was an aluminum open-celled foam. The volume fraction and pore size of the aluminum foam was varied. The effective thermal conductivity of the various combinations of interlaced aluminum foam and liquid water were measured. Results of these measurements were used to predict the effective conductivity of an ice and foam combination. The calculated effective thermal conductivity for a foam/ice composite system was used to determine the regeneration time for a Direct Interface Fusible Heat Sink for potential use in a Portable Life Support System.

Fusible heat sinks are a possible source for thermal regulation of space suited astronauts. Historically, water has been the material of choice. Identification of alternative materials with greater thermal storage capability could enable both an extension of time between recharging, as well as a reduction in size. An extensive database search was undertaken to identify candidate materials with liquid solid transformations over the temperature range of -18°C (0°F) to 5°C (40°F); and 1215 candidates were identified. Based on available data, 59 candidate materials with thermal storage capability, ΔH values higher than that of water were identified. This paper presents the methodology utilized in the study, including the decision process used for materials selection. Future work will concentrate on measurement of thermodynamic data of the most promising materials so that the reliability of the data can be improved.