Measuring thermal conductivity of a metal

AI Thread Summary
Practical methods for measuring the thermal conductivity of metals include using differential scanning calorimetry and estimating conductivity based on electrical conductivity, although the latter is influenced by various factors like temperature and metal type. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides extensive resources on measurement techniques for thermophysical properties. A portable tool akin to a multimeter for direct measurement is not readily available, as accurate measurements typically require standard sample sizes. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the variables involved in thermal conductivity measurements. Overall, specific measurement methods depend on the context and requirements of the measurement.
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TL;DR Summary
Viable procedure to meter the heat conductive constant of a metal
What'd be practical method and/or portable, simple tool (like sort of electricians' multimeter) to meter the heat conductive constant of a metal?
 
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abdulbadii said:
TL;DR Summary: Viable procedure to meter the heat conductive constant of a metal

What'd be practical method and/or portable, simple tool (like sort of electricians' multimeter) to meter the heat conductive constant of a metal?
One could get an estimate of the thermal conductivity of a metal based on the electrical conductivity, however, thermal conductivity of metals has two components, one of electron conduction and the other lattice/phonon conduction, and the fractions/proportions vary with metals/elements and temperature.

The US National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST, formerly National Bureau of Standards (NBS)) has many publications on the measurement techniques and measurement results of thermophysical properties of many elements, metals and alloys, and non-metal elements and compounds.

E.g., https://srd.nist.gov/JPCRD/jpcrd7.pdf

Differential scanning calorimetry is a method.
 
abdulbadii said:
What'd be practical method and/or portable, simple tool (like sort of electricians' multimeter) to meter the heat conductive constant of a metal?
Will you be able to insert a standard test sample (standard size and volume) into the meter, or do you want to be able to walk up to a metal wall and just measure its thermal conductivity somehow? If you cannot measure a standard sample size and shape, you can see what other variables will enter in, right?
 
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