IDES
Home  Plastics  Generics  Manufacturers  Distributors  Store
Tips
Login to Prospector
Don't have an IDES account?
Create an account now
  Home > Resources > Plastic Properties Descriptions > Thermal Conductivity
 ASTM C177 Explained

Email this page

Thermal Conductivity - ASTM C177

Purchase and download official ASTM standards today!

The rate of heat flow through a material per unit thickness per degree of temperature difference across the thickness.

Testing is performed using a guarded-hot-plate apparatus. Two identical samples are placed on opposite sides of the main heater. The main heater and guard heaters are kept at the same temperature. Both auxiliary heaters are maintained a lower temperature. The guard heaters minimize the amount of lateral heat transfer from the main heater. Temperatures are monitored at each surface by thermocouples. The heat transferred through the specimens is equal to the power supplied to the main heater. Thermal equilibrium is established when temperature and voltage readings are steady.


Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus

Thermal conductivity is calculated using:
k = P / [t * (Tm - Ta)]
where P is the power supplied to the main heater,
t is the total specimen thickness (twice the single specimen thickness),
and Tm is the temperature of the main heater,
and Ta is the temperature of the auxiliary heater.

Similar Standards

 

Tell-a-Friend - Share This Page - Advertising - Services - Store - About IDES - Contact IDES: 800-788-4668 | 307-742-9227 Chat ©1986- IDES