What is thermal conductivity?

Thermal conductivity is defined as the measure of a material's ability to conduct heat. This property indicates how efficiently heat can transfer through a material when there is a temperature difference. Materials with high thermal conductivity, such as metals, allow heat to flow easily, making them good conductors. Conversely, materials with low thermal conductivity, like wood or insulation foam, resist heat flow and are good insulators.

Understanding thermal conductivity is crucial in various applications, such as in building materials, where good insulation might be desirable to maintain temperature control, or in engineering materials that need to effectively transfer heat in systems like heat exchangers. The ability to quantify thermal conductivity helps engineers and scientists design better systems for heating and cooling processes.