Heat Conductivity with Aluminum Foil

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the heat conductivity of aluminum foil when used in conjunction with various materials, specifically pine, sheet rock, glass, and plexiglass. Aluminum foil has a unique role in thermal conductivity, potentially slowing conduction with high-conductivity materials like glass (0.86 W▪m/m2▪°C) while enhancing it with low-conductivity materials like pine (0.14 W▪m/m2▪°C). The conversation also touches on aluminum foil's primary use in construction as a vapor barrier, suggesting its reflective properties may influence heat transfer differently across materials.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermal conductivity and its measurement (W▪m/m2▪°C)
  • Familiarity with materials used in construction, specifically pine, sheet rock, glass, and plexiglass
  • Knowledge of aluminum foil's properties as a thermal insulator and vapor barrier
  • Basic principles of heat transfer, particularly conduction
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the thermal conductivity of aluminum foil in various applications
  • Explore the effects of layering materials on heat transfer efficiency
  • Investigate the role of aluminum foil as a vapor barrier in construction
  • Learn about the principles of heat reflection and absorption in different materials
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, construction professionals, and anyone interested in the thermal properties of materials, particularly in applications involving heat transfer and insulation techniques.

john325
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TL;DR
When does Aluminum foil help conductivity and prevent it.
If aluminum foil were used to help conduct heat with pine and sheet rock (0.14 W▪m/m2▪°C and 0.43 W▪m/m2▪°C respectively) would it also help conductivity for glass and plexiglass (0.86 W▪m/m2▪°C and 0.19 W▪m/m2▪°C respectively)? When does the transition of insulator and conductor happen for aluminum foil?
 
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Welcome, John! :smile:

How is the assembly of layers, and how is the flow of heat to reduce or increase for each case?
 
For all materials, there is a simple sheet of aluminum foil covering the top. I am thinking in the case of conduction. I am assuming that maybe aluminum foil would act to slow conduction with materials that have high conductivity and increase conduction with those with low conductivity. But I am not sure.
 
So would that mean that it would reflect heat more likely with glass and plexiglass versus the pine and sheet rock? With the pine and sheet rock is it more likely to conduct the heat?
 

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