You would like to perform a thermal diffusivity measurement on your materials
Thermal diffusivity is a physical property that describes the rate at which heat spreads within a material when subjected to a temperature change. It is the material’s ability to quickly distribute the heat it receives. It combines three fundamental parameters:
- Thermal conductivity (the ability to conduct heat)
- Heat capacity (the amount of energy required to raise its temperature)
- The material’s density
Evaluate a material's ability to transmit heat accurately
Thermal diffusivity is a key property for understanding how a material reacts to temperature changes. It indicates the rate at which heat propagates through a solid and is an essential parameter for sizing, validating, and optimizing your thermally stressed materials.
Our technical resources for thermal conductivity measurement
Laser Flash Method (LFA)
A laser sends a pulse to one side of the sample; an infrared detector measures the temperature rise on the opposite side.
Hot Disk Method
Transient analysis using a plane source, allowing simultaneous measurements
Hot Wire Method
Transient method for measuring diffusivity in liquids, gels, oils and porous materials.
DSC
Additional measure to complete the diffusivity calculation.
The FILAB laboratory performs thermal diffusivity measurements
In what context should a thermal diffusivity measurement be performed?
Measuring thermal diffusivity allows us to:
- understand the rate at which heat propagates through a material,
compare several material options to select the most suitable solution,
validate expected heat dissipation or thermal insulation,
monitor the stability of a process or formulation in production,
evaluate the impact of heat treatment, ageing, or a demanding environment,
model the thermal behavior of a part or a complete system,
investigate failures related to overheating or loss of insulation.
This measurement is becoming essential in many fields: electronics and batteries, electric mobility, energy, aerospace, medical devices, transportation, technical packaging, additive manufacturing, etc.
Our laboratory thermal analysis services
From analysis to R&D, the FILAB laboratory offers multi-sector services to meet a wide range of thermal analysis requirements, including :
FAQ
Thermal diffusivity measurements are applicable to a very wide variety of materials, whether bulk, thin, porous, or fluid. At filab, tests are performed on:
- Metals and alloys: aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, copper, etc., used in aerospace, energy, mobility, and additive manufacturing.
- Polymers and elastomers: thermoplastics, thermosets, biopolymers, films, resins, etc., with or without fillers.
- Composites: laminates, fibrous materials, carbon or glass composites, high-performance technical materials.
- Ceramics and refractory materials: oxides, nitrides, carbides, insulating or ultra-resistant materials.
- Glasses and vitrifiable materials, used in electronics, optics, and packaging.
- Foams and cellular materials: expanded polymers, metallic or ceramic foams, thermal insulators.
- Powders (polymers, metals, ceramics) — particularly for additive manufacturing, sintering, or metal/plastic injection molding.
- Liquids, oils, and gels, whose thermal behavior varies significantly with temperature.
Diffusivity measures the speed at which heat propagates; conductivity measures the amount of heat transmitted. The two properties are related but distinct.
No, in the vast majority of cases. Transient methods (LFA, Hot Disk, Hot Wire) are non-destructive.
Several methods allow for the precise measurement of thermal diffusivity across a wide range of materials.
- Laser Flash Analysis (LFA)
The international reference method.
Principle:
A laser pulses onto one face of the sample; an infrared detector measures the temperature rise on the opposite face. Analysis of the signal allows for the calculation of thermal diffusivity.
Advantages:
Very high accuracy
Measurements over a wide temperature range
Suitable for bulk materials or pellets
Ideal for metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites
- Hot Disk Method (TPS – Transient Plane Source)
Transient analysis using a plane source, allowing simultaneous measurement of:
Thermal diffusivity
Thermal conductivity
Heat capacity
Advantages:
Suitable for isotropic and anisotropic materials
Ideal for foams, powders, polymers, and composites
- Hot Wire Method
Transient method for measuring diffusivity in liquids, gels, oils, and porous materials.
DSC:
DSC is not a method for measuring thermal diffusivity, but it is essential for calculating thermal conductivity from a diffusivity measurement (LFA).
It therefore serves as a complementary technique, essential for complete thermal characterization.
