Thermal Conductivity Converter
Convert thermal conductivity measurements between different units quickly and accurately
Convert Thermal Conductivity
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 Questions
Everything you need to know about thermal conductivity measurements and conversions
What is thermal conductivity and why is it important?
Thermal conductivity is a material property that measures how well a substance can conduct heat. It's defined as the amount of heat that passes through a unit area of material with unit thickness in unit time when there's a unit temperature difference. It's crucial for applications like building insulation, electronics cooling, and heat exchanger design.
What are typical thermal conductivity values for common materials?
Metals have high thermal conductivity: copper (~400 W/(m⋅K)), aluminum (~205 W/(m⋅K)), steel (~50 W/(m⋅K)). Insulators have low values: air (~0.025 W/(m⋅K)), wood (~0.1-0.2 W/(m⋅K)), fiberglass (~0.04 W/(m⋅K)). Water has moderate conductivity (~0.6 W/(m⋅K)).
How do I convert between W/(m⋅K) and BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F)?
To convert W/(m⋅K) to BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F), multiply by 0.5778. To convert BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F) to W/(m⋅K), multiply by 1.7307. For example: 1 W/(m⋅K) = 0.5778 BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F). These are the most common units in international vs US engineering applications.
What factors affect thermal conductivity?
Temperature significantly affects thermal conductivity - metals typically decrease with temperature while non-metals may increase. Material purity, crystal structure, density, and moisture content also play major roles. For gases, thermal conductivity increases with temperature and decreases with molecular weight.
How is thermal conductivity measured?
Common methods include the guarded hot plate method for insulators, the hot wire method for fluids and powders, laser flash analysis for solids, and steady-state comparative methods. Each method is suited for different material types and temperature ranges, with accuracies typically within 2-5%.
What's the difference between thermal conductivity and thermal resistance?
Thermal conductivity (k) is an intrinsic material property measuring heat conduction ability. Thermal resistance (R) depends on both material properties and geometry, calculated as R = thickness/(k × area). High thermal conductivity means low thermal resistance for the same geometry.
Why do different engineering fields use different units?
Units evolved based on regional practices and application needs. SI units (W/(m⋅K)) are standard in scientific and international work. Imperial units (BTU/(hr⋅ft⋅°F)) are common in US HVAC and building industries. CGS units (cal/(s⋅cm⋅°C)) are used in some materials science applications.
How does thermal conductivity relate to energy efficiency?
Lower thermal conductivity materials provide better insulation, reducing energy loss in buildings and improving HVAC efficiency. Higher thermal conductivity materials are preferred for heat sinks, cookware, and heat exchangers where efficient heat transfer is desired. Material selection significantly impacts energy consumption.
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