Thermal Conductivity Glossary of Terms
Aggregate
In a composite material, aggregate is a term to represent the material that resists compressive stress.
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials.
Blending
The thorough intermingling of powders having the same nominal composition. For example, blending two different lots of the same raw materials to smooth out any minor variations.
Density
Density is the ratio of mass, to volume.
Diffusivity
Thermal diffusivity is the measure of the way heat flows through a material to the other side. It is also often expressed as the rate of change of temperature in a transient heat transfer process. The higher the thermal diffusivity of a material, the higher the rate of temperature propagation. Diffusivity equation is as follows:
Where:
= Thermal Diffusivity
= Thermal Conductivity
= Specific Heat
= Density
According to this relation, thermal diffusivity will affect any conductive transient heat transfer process within the sample medium. Thermal diffusivity has the dimension length²/time and is expressed in the units’ m²/s.
Dispersion
Dispersion is the act or process of scattering or dispersing, or the state of being scattered from one component into another.
Drying
To remove the moisture from; make dry.
Effusivity
Effusivity is a heat transfer property present in all materials in all formats – solid, liquid, pastes, powder and gas. Effusivity is the property that dictates the interfacial temperature when two semi-infinite objects at different temperature touch. Effusivity combines thermal conductivity, density and heat capacity into one value. Effusivity is the thermal property relative in quantifying the touch property of a material. Effusivity equation is as follows:
Where:
= Thermal Conductivity (W/m•K)
= Heat Capacity (J/kg•K)
= Density (kg/m3)
Guarded Hot Plate
Guarded hot plate is a steady state technique that involves placing a solid sample of fixed dimension between two temperature controlled plates. One plate is heated while the other is cooled and temperatures of the plates are monitored until they are constant. The steady state temperatures, the thickness of the sample and the heat input to the hot plate are used to calculate the thermal conductivity.
Specific Heat Capacity
Specific heat capacity is by definition the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit of mass of a substance by a unit change in temperature. Specific Heat Capacity equation is as follows:
OR
Where:
= change in heat in Joules
= the mass in kg
= specific heat capacity in J/(kg-°C)
= change in temperature in °C or K
The derived units for c, the specific heat capacity, is (J/kg-°C). The specific heat capacity of a substance depends on its molecular structure and on its phase.
Homogeneity
Homogeneity is the quality of being uniform throughout in composition or structure.
Hydrocarbon
An organic compound consisting of solely hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are the primary energy source of the modern civilization (i.e. coal, petroleum, oil, etc.).
In-Situ
Is a Latin phrase which directly translates to “on site” or “in place”. Exact definition varies depending on discipline, however for the most part it refers to testing or manipulation at location or exactly where the sample/process is occurring.
Interfacial
Relating to or situated at an interface; “an interfacial layer”; “interfacial tension is the surface tension at the interface between two liquids”.
Laser or Xenon Flash Diffusivity
Laser flash diffusivity is a transient method that involves applying a short pulse of heat to the front face of a specimen using a laser flash, and measuring the temperature change of the rear face with an infrared (IR) detector. The resulting temperature rise of the other face of the test specimen is monitored as a function of time and used, together with the sample thickness, to determine the thermal diffusivity. This can be combined with density and heat capacity data to calculate thermal conductivity.
Mixing
The thorough intermingling of two or more materials.
Modified Hot Wire
Modified hot wire is a transient heat reflectance technique similar to hot wire. The modification is that the heating element is supported on a backing, which provides a rectangular one dimensional heat flow. This eliminates the intrusive nature and allows for solids to be tested without being melted. The plot of the wire temperature versus the square root of time is used to calculate thermal conductivity, provided that density and heat capacity are known.
Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS)
MTPS employs a one-sided, interfacial heat reflectance sensor that applies a momentary constant heat source to the sample. Typically, the measurement pulse is between 1 to 3 seconds. Thermal conductivity and effusivity are measured directly, providing a detailed overview of the heat transfer properties of the sample material. It is widely considered the fastest, easiest and most reproducible method for measuring thermal conductivity.
Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Modulated or dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (M or DDSC) is a technique that involves conducting two DSC measurements on samples of differing thickness. The difference in apparent heat capacity is the result of the lag in the heat penetrating through the sample during testing. The DSC results and the thicknesses of the two samples are used to calculate thermal conductivity.
Non-destructive
Of, relating to, or being a process that does not result in damage to the material under investigation or testing.
R-Value
R-value is a measure of the thermal resistance of a material. Thermal resistance is an index of a materials’ resistance to the flow of heat. It is the reciprocal of the thermal conductivity.
Reflectance
Reflectance is the fraction of radiant energy that is reflected from a surface.
Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)
SAGD is an in-situ enhanced oil recovery technology developed for bituminous oil sand extraction. SAGD functions by inputting thermal energy through the form of steam to manipulate the physical properties of raw bitumen. The input of steam lowers the viscosity of the bitumen and allows for easier separation from the oil sand matrix.
Thermal Conductivity (k)
Thermal conductivity is a physical property of a material that characterizes the ability of that substance to transfer heat. The value of thermal conductivity determines the quantity of heat passing per unit of time per unit area at a temperature drop of 1-degree C per unit length. In the limit of infinitesimal thickness and difference in temperature, the fundamental law of heat conduction is:
Where:
is a measure of the heat flow
is the cross sectional area
is the temperature / thickness gradient
is defined as the thermal conductivity
Thermal conductivity differs with each substance and may depend on the structure, density, humidity, pressure and temperature. Materials having a large thermal conductivity value are good conductors of heat; one with a small thermal conductivity value is a poor heat conductor i.e. good insulator. Hence, knowledge of the thermal conductivity value (units W/m•K) allows for quantitative comparisons to be made between the thermal insulation efficiencies of different materials.
Thermal Mapping
Thermal mapping is a process that identifies and quantifies thermal distribution across a particular sample. With respect to thermal conductivity, thermal mapping is a process used to quantify the distribution across various planes of a thermally conductive sample which is most readily accomplished using C-Therm’s MTPS.
Thermal Stress
Stress caused by any change in temperature to a material. It occurs as a result of thermal expansion of structural members when the temperature changes. Effects of thermal stress decrease with increasing thermal conductivity due to improved heat dissipation properties.
Thermal Transmission Properties
Thermal transmission properties are those properties of a material or system that define the ability of the material or system to transfer heat. Properties, such as thermal resistance, thermal conductance, thermal condutivity, and thermal resistivity would be included.
Thermophysical
Defined as material properties that vary as a function of temperature most commonly associated with heat transfer and heat storage.
Hot Wire
Hot wire is a transient technique that involves inserting an electrically heated wire into a material. This intrusive method is possible for foams and fluids and melted plastics. The heat flows out radially from the wire into the sample and the temperature of the wire is measured. The plot of the wire temperature versus the logarithm of time is used to calculate thermal conductivity.
Transient Line Source (TLS)
Transient Line Source sensors provide a robust, efficient, and accurate capability to measure the thermal conductivity of materials with irregular shapes and structures.
Transient Plane Source (TPS)
Transient plane source is a type of modified hot wire. It is a transient reflectance technique for solids and liquids in which the sample surrounds a heating element configured as a planar circle. With the constant current heat input to the sample, a 3 dimensional heat flow results and the temperature of the interface is monitored and plotted against a time function. The results are thermal conductivity and diffusivity – both independent of each other, without requiring sample geometry information, density or heat capacity.
Viscosity
A quantity that describes a fluid’s resistance to flow. Conceptually, viscosity informs liquid “thickness” (i.e. maple syrup has a higher viscosity then water).
Wetting
To fill or moisten with water or other liquid.