What is Coefficient of Thermal Conductivity?

Coefficient of thermal conductivity is the measurement of a the ability of a substance to conduct heat. It represents the rate at which heat flows through a unit area of a material with a unit temperature gradient. Materials with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity are conductors, while those with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity are insulators or poor conductors of heat.

Thermal Conductivity

The capacity of a substance to transport heat is referred to as thermal conductivity. For example, wood conducts heat less effectively than metals because of its less structured atomic structure, while metals transmit heat well because of their densely packed atoms and free electrons. On a stove, a plastic container takes longer to heat than a metal pot. Choosing materials for specialized uses, such as insulation or cooking, is made easier with an understanding of heat conductivity.

Unit of Coefficient of Thermal Conductivity

The SI unit of measurement for thermal conductivity is watts per meter-kelvin (W/mK), i.e., Wm^-1K^-1. It is represented by the symbol k.

This unit indicates the quantity of heat energy (measured in watts) that may per unit temperature differential (measured in kelvin) over a material having a thickness of one meter

The other unit of measurement for coefficient of thermal conductivity is watts per meter per degree Celsius (W/m°C)

• The unit of measurement for heat energy is “watts”. It is comparable to calculating the power output of a heater.
• Like a ruler, a “meter” is a unit of length. Here, it’s employed to determine a material’s thickness.
• The temperature is measured in “degree Celsius”. It indicates the difference in temperature between the two sides of the substance.

Coefficient of thermal conductivity measures the ability of a substance to transport heat. Wood and plastic are low conductivity materials that insulate and prevent heat movement, whereas metals and other high conductivity materials swiftly absorb and spread heat. Materials with high thermal conductivity transfer heat efficiently and are good conductors of heat, while materials with low thermal conductivity transfer heat slowly and are considered poor conductors or insulators. This helps in choosing materials for various purposes.

In this article, we will learn in detail about the coefficient of thermal conductivity, its units, factors affecting it, and other facts related to it.