Related Resources: calculators

Solid Substances Thermal Conductivities

Thermal Conductivities of Miscellaneous Solid Substances *

  • Values of k are to be regarded as rough average values for the temperature range indicated
  • Woods, oven dry, across grain†

* The thermal conductivity of different materials varies greatly. For metals and alloys k is high, while for certain insulating materials, such as glass wool, cork, and kapok, it is very low. In general, k varies with the temperature, but in the case of metals, the variation is relatively small. With most other substances, k increases with rising temperatures, but in the case of many crystalline materials, the reverse is true.
† With heat flow parallel to the grain, k may be 2 to 3 times that with heat flow perpendicular to the grain, the values for wool are taken chiefly from J. D. MacLean, Trans. ASHRAE, 47, 1941, p. 323

Conversion Factor

Quantity     Reference Unit     is equal to     Conversion Factor     Unit  
1 BTU (int)/hour-foot-°F = 12   BTU (int)-inch/hour-square foot-°F
= 1   BTU (int)/hour-foot-°F
= 12.008030593291   BTU (thermochem)-inch/hour-sq. foot-°F
= 1.0006692161076   BTU (thermochem)/hour-foot-°F
= 0.0041337887321376   calorie (int)/second-centimeter-°C
= 0.0041365551299507   calorie (thermochem)/second-cm-°C
= 0.0017307346663714   kilowatt/meter-K
= 0.017307346663714   watt/centimeter-°C
= 1.7307346663714   watt/meter-K

Source:

Marks Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers

Related