Thermal Diffusivity of Non-metallic Solids

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Tags: Diffusion

The following table lists common, non-metallic materials used in construction and their corresponding thermal diffusivity values.  It measures the rate of transfer of heat from the hot side of a material to the cold side.  The alpha value (α) is used to calculate the rate of heat transfer due to conduction. The values below are listed in CM2/S [SI] or IN2/S [US].  Typically this is in M2/S or FT2/S but due to the small values, they are displayed as shown below. To convert to M2 and FT2/S, divide by 10,000 and 144, respectively.

Thermal diffusivity is used to calculate some of the following dimensionless numbers for heat transfer:

 

Thermal DIFFUSIVITY of non-metallic solids

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
Material Temperature °C
Thermal Diffusivity α D (cm2/s)  Temperature °F Thermal Diffusivity  α D (in2/s)  

Asbestos Fiber

50

0.0029

122

4.495x10-4

Asphalt

20

0.0036

68

5.580x10-4

Bakelite

20

0.0011

68

1.705x10-4

Bark

25

0.0017

77

2.635x10-4

Brick

       

Common

20

0.0028-0.0034

68

4.340x10-4-5.270x10-4

Firebrick

300

0.00054

572

8.370x10-5

Masonry

20

0.0046

68

7.130x10-4

Brickwork, dried in air

20

0.0049-0.0054

68

7.595x10-4-8.370x10-4

Carbon

       

Diamond (type lib)

20

8.1

68

1.255

Graphite (firm, natural)

20

1.02-1.27

68

0.1581

Carborundum (SiC)

100

0.62

212

9.610x10-2

Celluloid

20

0.001

68

1.550x10-4

Cement (portland, fresh, dry)

20

0.0013

68

2.015x10-4

Chalk (CaC03)

20

0.01-0.015

68

1.550x10-3-2.325x10-3

Clay

20

0.01

68

1.550x10-3

Fireclay

100

0.35-0.71

212

5.425x10-2-0.1100

Material Temperature °C Thermal Diffusivity α D (cm2/s)   Temperature °F Thermal Diffusivity  α D (in2/s)

Coal

20

0.0014-0.0017

68

2.170x10-4-2.635x10-4

Bituminous in-situ

 

0.003-0.004

32

4.650x10-4-6.200x10-4

Dust

30

0.0013

86

2.015x10-4

Concrete, made with gravel, dry

20

0.0066

68

1.023x10-3

Cork Board

20

0.0015

68

2.325x10-4

Cotton

30

0.0063

86

9.765x10-4

Earth

       

Coarse-grained

20

0.0016

68

2.480x10-4

Diatomaceous

20

0.0031

68

4.805x10-4

Fat

20

0.001

68

1.550x10-4

Glass

       

Lead

20

0.0036-0.0047

68

5.580x10-4-7.285x10-4

Mirror

20

0.0035

68

5.425x10-4

Pyrex

60-100

0.0078

140-212

1.209x10-3

Quartz

20

0.0087

68

1.348x10-3

Window

20

0.0034

68

5.270x10-4

Wool

0

0.0028

32

4.340x10-4

Granite

20

0.012

68

1.860x10-3

Gypsum

20

0.0047

68

7.285x10-4

Ice

0

0.012

32

1.860x10-3

Material Temperature °C   Thermal Diffusivity α D (cm2/s)   Temperature °F Thermal Diffusivity  α D (in2/s)   

Leather, dry

20

~0.001

68

~1.550x10-4

Limestone

100

~0.005

212

~7.750x10-4

Marble

20

0.013

68

2.015x10-3

Mica

20

 

68

 

Mortar

20

0.0061

68

9.455x10-4

Paper

20

0.0014

68

2.170x10-4

Paraffin

30

~0.001

86

~1.550x10-4

Plaster

20

0.0058

68

8.990x10-4

Plexiglas (acrylic)

20

0.0011

68

1.705x10-4

Polyethylene

20

0.0017

68

2.635x10-4

Polyurethane

20

0.0013

68

2.015x10-4

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

20

0.0011

68

1.705x10-4

Porcelain

95

0.004

203

6.200x10-4

Quartz

20

~0.008

68

~1.240x10-3

Rubber

       

Foam

20

0.0011

68

1.705x10-4

Hard (ebonite)

20

0.0006

68

9.300x10-5

Soft

20

~0.001

68

1.550x10-4

Synthetic

20

0.001

68

1.550x10-4

Salt (rock salt)

0

0.003-0.036

32

4.650x10-4-5.580x10-3

Material Temperature °C Thermal Diffusivity α D (cm2/s)   Temperature °F  Thermal Diffusivity  α D (in2/s)

Sand

       

Sandstone

20

0.01-0.013

68

1.550x10-3-2.015x10-3

Silica stone (85% SiC)

700

0.055

1292

8.525x10-3

Silicon

20

0.94

68

0.1457

Silk (artificial)

35

0.0037

95

5.735x10-4

Slag

20

0.0023-0.0027

68

3.565x10-4-4.185x10-4

Slate

       

Parallel to lamination

20

0.014

68

2.170x10-3

Perpendicular to lamination

20

0.009

68

1.395x10-3

Snow, firm

0

0.0039

32

6.045x10-4

Soil [see also Earth]

     

 

Dry

15

0.004

59

6.200x10-4

Wet

15

 

59

 

Sugar (fine)

0

0.0029

32

4.495x10-4

Sulfur

20

0.0018

68

2.790x10-4

Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene)

20

0.001

68

1.550x10-4

Wood, perpendicular to grain

     

 

Oak

20

~0.0012

68

~1.860x10-4

Pine, fir, spruce

20

0.0012

68

1.860x10-4

Wool

     

 

Sheep

20

0.0021

68

3.255x10-4

Mineral

50

0.0025

122

3.875x10-4

Slag

25

0.0031

77

4.805x10-4

Material Temperature °C Thermal Diffusivity α D (cm2/s)    Temperature °F Thermal Diffusivity  α D (in2/s)  

 

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Tags: Diffusion