Thermal Conductivity of Non-metallic Solids

Thermal Conductivity of non-metallic solids

The following table lists common materials used in construction and their corresponding thermal conductivity values.  The lambda value (λ) is used to calculate the heat transfer due to conduction. The values below are listed in W/m-K [SI] or BTU/FT-F [US].

Asbestos

Cement board

20

0.6

68

0.347

Felt (16 laminations per centimeter)

40

0.057

104

0.033

Fiber

50

0.11

122

0.064

Sheet

20

0.74

68

0.428

50

0.17

122

0.098

Asphalt

20

0.7

68

0.404

Bakelite

20

0.23

68

0.133

Bark

25

0.074

77

0.043

Brick

Carborundum

1400

11.1

2,552

6.413

Cement

10

0.34

50

0.196

Common

20

0.38-0.52

68

0.22-0.30

Chrome

100

1.9

212

1.098

Facing

20

1.3

68

0.751

Firebrick

300

0.1

572

0.058

Magnesite (50% MgO)

20

2.68

68

1.548

Masonry

20

0.66

68

0.381

Silica (95% Si02)

20

1.07

68

0.618

Zircon (62% Zr02)

20

2.44

68

1.410

Brickwork, dried in air

20

0.58-0.81

68

0.335-0.468

Carbon

Diamond (type lib)

20

1350

68

780.016

Graphite (firm, natural)

20

155

68

89.557

Carborundum (SiC)

100

58

212

33.512

Cardboard

0-20

~0.14

32-68

~0.081

Celluloid

20

0.23

68

0.133

Cement (portland, fresh, dry)

20

0.3

68

0.173

Chalk (CaC03)

20

2.2

68

1.271

Clay

20

1.28

68

0.740

Fireclay

100

0.5-1.2

212

0.289-0.693

Sandy Clay

20

0.9

68

0.520

Coal

20

0.26

68

0.150

Anthracite

900

0.2

1,652

0.116

Brown coal

900

0.1

1,652

0.058

Bituminous in-situ

0.5-0.7

0.289-0.404

Dust

30

0.12

86

0.069

Concrete, made with gravel, dry

20

1.28

68

0.740

Cinder

24

0.76

75

0.439

Cork

Board

20

0.042

68

0.024

Expanded

20

0.036

68

0.021

Cotton

30

0.059

86

0.034

Earth

Clayey (28% moisture)

20

1.51

68

0.872

Coarse-grained

20

0.59

68

0.341

Diatomaceous

20

0.126

68

0.073

Sandy (8% moisture)

20

1.05

68

0.607

Fiber insulating board

20

0.048

68

0.028

Glass

Borosilicate

30

1.09

86

0.630

Fiber

20

0.035

68

0.020

Lead

20

0.7-0.93

68

0.404-0.537

Mirror

20

0.76

68

0.439

Pyrex

60-100

1.3

140-212

0.751

Quartz

20

1.4

68

0.809

Window

20

0.81

68

0.468

Wool

0

0.037

32

0.021

Granite

20

2.9

68

1.676

Gypsum

20

0.51

68

0.295

Ice

0

2.25

32

1.300

Kapok

30

0.035

86

0.020

Limestone

100

1.1

212

0.636

Linoleum

20

0.081

68

0.047

Magnezia (85%)

38-204

0.067-0.08

100-400

0.039-0.046

Marble

20

2.8

68

1.618

Mica

20

0.52

68

0.300

Mortar

20

0.93

68

0.537

Paper

20

0.12

68

0.069

Paraffin

30

0.24-0.27

86

0.139-0.156

Plaster

20

0.79

68

0.456

Plexiglas (acrylic)

20

0.184

68

0.106

Polyethylene

20

0.35

68

0.202

Polystyrene

20

0.157

68

0.091

Polyurethane

20

0.32

68

0.185

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

20

0.15

68

0.087

Porcelain

95

1.03

203

0.595

Quartz

20

1.40

68

0.809

Rubber

Foam

20

0.09

68

0.052

Hard (ebonite)

20

0.16

68

0.092

Soft

20

~0.2

68

~0.116

Synthetic

20

0.23

68

0.133

Salt (rock salt)

0

7

32

4.045

Sand

Dry

20

0.58

68

0.335

Moist

20

1.13

68

0.653

Sandstone

20

1.6-2.1

68

0.924-1.213

Sawdust, dry

20

0.07

68

0.040

Silica stone (85% SiC)

700

1.56

1,292

0.901

Silica aerogel

0

0.024

32

0.014

Silicon

20

153

68

88.402

Silk (artificial)

35

0.049

95

0.028

Slag

20

0.57

68

0.329

Slate

Parallel to lamination

20

2.9

68

1.676

Perpendicular to lamination

20

1.83

68

1.057

Snow, firm

0

0.46

32

0.266

Soil [see also Earth]

Dry

15

1

59

0.578

Wet

15

2

59

1.156

Sugar (fine)

0

0.58

32

0.335

Sulfur

20

0.27

68

0.156

Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene)

20

0.23

68

0.133

Wood, perpendicular to grain

Ash

15

0.14-0.3

59

0.081-0.173

Balsa

15

0.05

59

0.029

Cedar

15

0.11

59

0.064

Mahogany

20

0.16

68

0.092

Oak

20

0.17-0.25

68

0.098-0.144

Pine, fir, spruce

20

0.15

68

0.087

Plywood

20

0.11

68

0.064

Wool

Sheep

20

0.036

68

0.021

Mineral

50

0.042

122

0.024

Slag

25

0.05

77

0.029