Convert Thermal Conductivity
Convert thermal conductivity measurements between different units quickly and accurately
Thermal Conductivity Conversion Calculator
Popular Thermal Conductivity Conversions
Quickly convert between the most commonly used thermal conductivity units.
Understanding Thermal Conductivity Measurements
Thermal conductivity measurement is crucial in materials science, engineering, and energy efficiency. The watt per meter-K (W/(m⋅K)) is the base unit in the International System of Units (SI), while BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F) and other units are used in different regions and industries. Understanding thermal conductivity conversions is essential for insulation, electronics cooling, and heat exchanger design.
Common Thermal Conductivity Units
SI Units
- Watt per meter-K (W/(m⋅K)) - Base unit
- Kilowatt per meter-K (kW/(m⋅K)) - 1000 W/(m⋅K)
- Milliwatt per meter-K (mW/(m⋅K)) - 0.001 W/(m⋅K)
Other Units
- BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) - Common in US industry
- Calorie/(s⋅cm⋅°C) - CGS system
- BTU⋅in/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) - Building insulation
- Watt per centimeter-°C (W/(cm⋅°C)) - Laboratory use
Common Applications
| Field | Common Units | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Building Insulation | W/(m⋅K), BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | Wall, roof, window insulation |
| Electronics Cooling | W/(m⋅K) | Heat sink, thermal interface materials |
| Materials Science | W/(m⋅K), cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) | Material selection, research |
| HVAC | BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | Heating, ventilation, air conditioning |
Conversion Tips
- 1 W/(m⋅K) ≈ 0.5778 BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F)
- 1 BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) ≈ 1.7307 W/(m⋅K)
- 1 cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) ≈ 418.68 W/(m⋅K)
- Higher thermal conductivity means better heat transfer
Thermal Conductivity Conversions
| Conversion | Formula | Quick Answer |
|---|---|---|
| W/(m⋅K) to BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | 1 W/(m⋅K) = 0.5778 BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | Multiply by 0.5778 |
| BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) to W/(m⋅K) | 1 BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) = 1.7307 W/(m⋅K) | Multiply by 1.7307 |
| W/(m⋅K) to cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) | 1 W/(m⋅K) = 0.00239 cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) | Multiply by 0.00239 |
| cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) to W/(m⋅K) | 1 cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C) = 418.68 W/(m⋅K) | Multiply by 418.68 |
| W/(m⋅K) to kW/(m⋅K) | 1 W/(m⋅K) = 0.001 kW/(m⋅K) | Divide by 1000 |
| kW/(m⋅K) to W/(m⋅K) | 1 kW/(m⋅K) = 1000 W/(m⋅K) | Multiply by 1000 |
| W/(m⋅K) to mW/(m⋅K) | 1 W/(m⋅K) = 1000 mW/(m⋅K) | Multiply by 1000 |
| mW/(m⋅K) to W/(m⋅K) | 1 mW/(m⋅K) = 0.001 W/(m⋅K) | Divide by 1000 |
| BTU⋅in/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) to W/(m⋅K) | 1 BTU⋅in/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) = 0.1442 W/(m⋅K) | Multiply by 0.1442 |
| W/(m⋅K) to BTU⋅in/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | 1 W/(m⋅K) = 6.933 BTU⋅in/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F) | Multiply by 6.933 |
Our thermal conductivity conversion tool provides accurate conversions between all major thermal conductivity units, making it easy to work with materials across different measurement systems. Whether you're designing insulation, selecting heat transfer materials, or conducting research, our converter ensures precise and reliable thermal conductivity conversions.
Thermal Conductivity Conversion Questions
Everything you need to know about thermal conductivity measurements and conversions
What is thermal conductivity?
Thermal conductivity is a material property that describes how well a material conducts heat. It's measured as the rate of heat transfer through a unit thickness of material per unit area per unit temperature difference. Materials with high thermal conductivity (like metals) transfer heat quickly, while low conductivity materials (like insulation) resist heat transfer.
What does W/(m⋅K) mean?
W/(m⋅K) stands for watts per meter-kelvin. It represents the amount of heat (in watts) that flows through one meter of material thickness across one square meter of area when there's a temperature difference of one kelvin (or degree Celsius) between the two sides.
How do I choose insulation based on thermal conductivity?
Lower thermal conductivity values indicate better insulation. Good building insulation typically has values below 0.1 W/(m⋅K). For example: fiberglass insulation ~0.04 W/(m⋅K), foam insulation ~0.03 W/(m⋅K), while concrete is ~1.7 W/(m⋅K) and aluminum is ~200 W/(m⋅K).
Why do different countries use different thermal conductivity units?
Historical measurement systems persist in different industries and regions. The US construction industry often uses BTU⋅ft/(hr⋅ft²⋅°F), while most of the world uses the SI unit W/(m⋅K). Both measure the same physical property but with different scaling factors.
What's the difference between thermal conductivity and thermal resistance?
Thermal conductivity measures how well a material conducts heat (higher values = better conduction), while thermal resistance measures how well it resists heat flow (higher values = better insulation). They're inversely related: materials with high thermal conductivity have low thermal resistance.
How does temperature affect thermal conductivity?
Thermal conductivity varies with temperature for most materials. Metals generally decrease in conductivity as temperature increases, while gases and many insulating materials increase. This is why thermal conductivity values are often specified at standard temperatures (usually 20°C or 68°F).
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