Thermal Conductivity Calculator
Find a material’s thermal conductivity from a steady-state conduction measurement: the heat flow rate, sample thickness, area, and temperature difference across it.
What This Calculator Does
Thermal conductivity measures how well a material conducts heat by pure conduction. It’s a key property used to compare insulation materials, design building envelopes, and analyze heat loss through walls or components.
The Formula
The calculator uses Fourier’s Law of steady-state heat conduction, rearranged as k = (Q × L) / (A × ΔT), where Q is the steady-state heat flow rate through the material, L is the material’s thickness in the direction of heat flow, A is the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the heat flow, and ΔT is the temperature difference across the thickness.
This calculation assumes one-dimensional, steady-state heat flow with no internal heat generation. For general educational and planning purposes; real-world measurements typically require controlled laboratory conditions.