Thermal Conductivity Converter

The degree to which a substance can transfer heat is determined in large part by its thermal conductivity. Scientists and engineers can evaluate a material's ability to conduct heat and decide if it is suitable for a given application by precisely measuring heat transfer.

Popular Unit Conversions Thermal Conductivity Converter

The most used and popular units of Thermal Conductivity conversions are presented for quick and free access.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thermal Conductivity?

Thermal conductors are materials that exhibit the ability to transfer heat. It measures how well a material moves to transfer heat energy. When there is a temperature difference within an object, the temperature moves from a higher temperature to a lower temperature. The rate at which this heat passes through a material depends on the rate of heat transfer.

Materials with higher temperatures do not heat up very well, because heat passes through them more easily. These materials are commonly utilized in thermal conductors, cooling systems, and heat exchangers—applications where effective heat transfer is required.

Stated differently, materials that do not burn are regarded as heat-insulating materials. They prevent heat loss and are used to reduce heat loss or provide insulation. Insulation is commonly used in construction, refrigeration, and other applications where necessary to reduce heat transfer.

Many factors affect heat transfer, including molecular structure, atomic structure, solids, and temperature. Generally, materials such as steel, which are more permeable to adjacent materials, have horizontal surfaces.

How to Calculate the Thermal Conductivity of a Material?

Thermal conductivity coefficients can be calculated in many ways, depending on the data and the complexity of the material under investigation.

Experimental measurement: it involves measurement the temperature of a substance directly.The simplest method is the guarded hot plate method, which involves measuring the heat flow through a sample that is placed between two plates at different temperatures and has a defined thickness and area.

Thermal Conductivity (k) = (Heat Flow (Q) × Thickness (L)) / (Area (A) × Temperature Difference (ΔT))

Mathematical models: For some materials, mathematical models can be used to estimate heat transfer based on composition or type. This model relies on empirical relationships or theoretical relationships derived from survey data. For example, the Wiedemann-Franz law relates heat transfer to the conductivity of electricity and the temperature of a metal.

Effective Media Theory: Effective media theory can be used where products are composites or mixtures. These formulas calculate the effective thermal conductivity of a composite by taking into account the thermal conductivity of a composite material. This method often analyzes heat transfer in porous materials, composites, and mixtures.

Molecular dynamics simulations: Molecular dynamics simulations model the behavior of atoms and molecules in a material to predict thermal properties thermal conductivity can be calculated using statistical mechanical principles by simulating interactions between particles. These simulations are particularly useful for studying materials at the atomic scale.

How to Use the Thermal Conductivity Calculator?

  • Select Material: Choose your material from the list.
  • Input Parameters: Enter temperature gradient, material thickness, and heat transfer area.
  • Enter Heat Flow: Input the rate of heat flow if required.
  • Calculate: Press the convert button to process the data.
  • Review Results: Check the calculated thermal conductivity and any additional information.

Which units can be converted using our thermal conductivity calculator?

  • Watts per meter-kelvin (W/(m·K))
  • Watts per centimeter-kelvin (W/(cm·K)): 1 W/(m·K) = 100 W/(cm·K)
  • Watts per inch-kelvin (W/(in·K)): 1 W/(m·K) = 0.0254 W/(in·K)
  • British thermal units per hour-foot-fahrenheit (BTU/(h·ft·°F))
  • BTU per hour-inch-fahrenheit (BTU/(h·in·°F)): 1 BTU/(h·ft·°F) = 12 BTU/(h·in·°F)
  • Watts per meter-kelvin (W/(m·K)): 1 BTU/(h·ft·°F) = 1.73073 W/(m·K)

How Accurate is the Thermal Conductivity Converter?

The accuracy of the converter depends on the conversion factors and data. The converter is designed to give accurate results based on the conversion relationship established between the units. The accuracy of the transformation is affected by precision of the input values. If the input values are round or incorrect, the change may cause an error.