Heat Conductivity with Aluminum Foil

[john325]

TL;DR Summary

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?

 

[berkeman]

Is this a question for your schoolwork?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-low-and-high-conductivity-materials.1059237/

 

[john325]

Is this a question for your schoolwork?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-low-and-high-conductivity-materials.1059237/

No, just stems from general curiosity. I was working through a physics lesson, and that sparked my curiosity.

 

[Lnewqban]

Welcome, John!

How is the assembly of layers, and how is the flow of heat to reduce or increase for each case?

 

[john325]

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.

 

[Lnewqban]

In construction, it is used mainly as a vapor barrier, besides reflective insulation..
Please, see:
https://alfipa.com/articles/aluminum-foil-as-vapour-barrier/

 

[john325]

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?