Thermal Conductivity Calculator

Enter value and click on calculate. Result will be displayed.
Select calculator:
 
Thermal Conductivity Constant (KT):
calorie/degree-cm-s
Temperature Differential (ΔT):
Distance or Length:
cm
Result:
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A Thermal Conductivity Calculator is a tool used to determine the thermal conductivity of a material. Thermal conductivity is a property that measures how well a material can conduct heat. It’s an essential factor in fields like material science, engineering, physics, and construction, where heat transfer is a critical consideration.

Why Thermal Conductivity Calculator is used:

It’s used because understanding how well a material can transfer heat helps in:

  • Designing insulation materials: To prevent unwanted heat loss or gain in buildings, pipes, or equipment.
  • Engineering applications: In systems like heat exchangers, radiators, or even electronic devices where managing heat is crucial.
  • Material selection: Choosing the right material for specific applications, based on how it interacts with heat.

Thermal conductivity is often given in watts per meter Kelvin (W/m·K), and this calculator helps to quickly determine that value based on available data or properties of a material.

How Thermal Conductivity Calculator works:

The calculator typically uses the Fourier’s law of heat conduction formula, which states:

Where:

  • q is the heat flow (in watts)
  • k is the thermal conductivity of the material (the value we're solving for)
  • A is the cross-sectional area through which heat is flowing
  • TΔT is the temperature difference between the two sides of the material
  • d is the thickness of the material

To calculate thermal conductivity, rearrange the formula to:

In the calculator, you’d input values for heat flow (q), area (A), temperature difference (ΔT), and thickness (d) to get the thermal conductivity (k).

When to use Thermal Conductivity Calculator:

You would use this calculator in situations like:

  • Material selection: When designing products that need specific thermal properties, such as insulating materials in construction, thermal barriers in electronics, or coatings.
  • Engineering and construction: To determine the heat flow through building materials or machinery parts.
  • Thermal management: In electronics or mechanical systems, like cooling devices, where managing heat is vital.
  • Laboratory testing: When experimenting with materials and trying to measure or compare their ability to conduct heat.

In short, it’s a handy tool whenever you need to understand how heat will move through a material, which is crucial for optimizing thermal performance in many industries.