The measurement of thermal conductivity is at the heart of our laboratory services offerings. We are a leader in thermal conductivity measurements and offer a vast array of methods to suit your purposes. These include:
- Modified transient plane source (MTPS)
- Transient line source
- Guarded hot plate / guarded heat flow
- Laser flash diffusivity
- Transient plane source (TPS)
Learn more about the differences amongst the variety of methods for thermal conductivity measurement.
TAL has tested a wide range of materials including:
| Aluminum, Copper and Other metals & alloys | Liquids |
| Bio-Based Insulation | Metal hydrides |
| Carbon Fiber Composites | Mineral fiber |
| Cellulose insulation | Nano composites |
| Concrete, Cement & Asphalt | Phase Change Materials |
| Dense Ceramics | Plastic / Polymer Composites |
| Epoxy Resins | Porous Ceramics |
| Fiberglass | Potting Compound |
| Firebrick | Silica Aerogels |
| Geological Samples (Soils and Rocks) | Silicon |
| Glass | Silicon Carbide |
| Graphite/Graphene and Carbon Composites | Textiles & Fabrics |
| Heat transfer fluids | Thermal interface materials (e.g. gap pads, thermal grease, etc.) |
| Invar | Wood |
Confines of Analysis
| Test Method | MTPS | TPS | TLS |
| Thermal Conductivity Range | 0 to 500 W/mK | 0.03 to 2000 W/mK | 0.1 to 6 W/mK |
| Thermal Diffusivity Range | 0 to 300 mm²/s* | 0.01 to 1200 mm²/s* | NA |
| Heat Capacity Range | Up to 5 MJ/m³K* | 0.1 to 5 MJ/m³K* | NA |
| Thermal Effusivity Range | 5 to 40,000 Ws½/m²K | NA | NA |
| Precision | Better than 1% | Better than 2% | Better than 3% |
| Accuracy | Better than 5% | Better than 5% | ± (3% + 0.02) W/mK |
| Minimuns Sample Size | Solids: Minimum diameter of 18mm. Minimun thickness is dependent on thermal conductivity. For materials under 1 W/mK a min. thichness of 1 mm is suggested. Liquids & Powders: 1.25 mL | Requires two identical samples. The diameter of the samples must be 2.5X sensor diameter. Thickness must be at minimun the same as the sensor diameter | 80 mL |
| Maximum Sample Size | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Standards
- Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) ASTM D7984
- Transient Line Source (Needle Probe) ASTM D5930, ASTM D5334, IEEE 442-1981
- Guarded Hot Plate / Guarded Heat Flow ASTM C518, ASTM C177
- Laser Flash Diffusivity ASTM E1461, ASTM E2585
- Transient Plane Source (TPS) ISO 22007-2