The discussion focuses on practical methods for measuring the thermal conductivity of metals, emphasizing the use of portable tools similar to electricians' multimeters. It highlights that thermal conductivity consists of both electron conduction and lattice/phonon conduction, which vary by metal and temperature. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides extensive publications on measurement techniques and results for various metals and alloys. Differential scanning calorimetry is mentioned as a viable method for this measurement.
PREREQUISITESEngineers, materials scientists, and researchers involved in thermal analysis and materials testing will benefit from this discussion.
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.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?
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?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?