Article
Article
Thermal conduction in solids
Article By:
Wooldridge, Margaret Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Last reviewed:September 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.689300
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- Thermal conduction in solids, published June 2019:Download PDF
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- Thermal conduction in solids, published July 2018:Download PDF
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- Thermal conduction in solids, published January 2014:Download PDF
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Heat transfer between two solid substances at different temperatures and in contact with each other occurs by conduction. The thermal conductivity, K, of a material is an indication of how effectively the material conducts heat. Thermal conductivity varies widely among different types of solids and depends strongly on temperature and on the purity and physical state of the materials, particularly at low temperatures. Materials, like metals, that are effective at transferring heat are called thermal conductors, whereas materials that are less effective at conducting heat are called thermal insulators (Fig. 1). See also: Heat transfer; Temperature
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