You would like to perform a thermal conductivity measurement on your materials
Thermal conductivity is a material’s ability to transmit heat. Specifically, it’s a measure of the rate at which thermal energy flows through a material when subjected to a temperature difference.
Understand, compare and optimize the thermal performance of your materials
Thermal conductivity is a key parameter for ensuring the performance, safety, and durability of a material. Whether you are developing a new insulating composite, a high-performance thermal alloy, or a temperature-sensitive medical device, mastering this property is essential.
Our technical resources for thermal conductivity measurement
Laser Flash Method (LFA)
Obtaining high-precision thermal diffusivity over a wide temperature range
Hot Disk Method
Measure thermal conductivity, diffusivity and heat capacity.
Hot Wire Method
Particularly suitable for liquids, gels, oils and porous materials
DSC
Additional measurement to complete the conductivity calculation.
The FILAB laboratory performs thermal conductivity measurement
In what context should a thermal conductivity measurement be performed?
Measuring thermal conductivity allows you to:
- choose a heat-dissipating or insulating material
- size a thermal system (electronics, battery, motor, etc.)
- understand abnormal heating
- verify compliance with a standard or specifications
- compare several formulations or suppliers
This data is essential in many sectors: energy, aeronautics, electronics, transportation, medical devices, 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 conductivity measurement applies to a wide variety of materials, whether solid, porous, flexible, rigid, or in powder form. At the filab laboratory, our versatile analytical equipment allows for the precise characterization of:
- Metals and alloys: aluminum, copper, steels, high-temperature alloys, etc.
Ideal for evaluating heat dissipation or comparing different grades. - Polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, biopolymers, etc. With the ability to study the effects of filler, crystallinity, or aging.
- Composite materials: carbon fibers, glass fibers, etc. Including anisotropic materials where conductivity varies with orientation.
- Technical ceramics: oxides, nitrides, carbides, technical glasses, etc. Suitable for insulating or high-conductivity materials.
- Foams and porous materials: polymer foams, metallic foams, insulation materials, etc. Since the microstructure strongly influences conductivity, our techniques are adapted accordingly.
- Powders and granules: ground polymers, metallic powders, mineral fillers, etc. Relevant for material testing before extrusion, injection molding, or additive manufacturing.
- Glasses and glass-ceramics: transparent materials, technical glasses.
- Fluids: oils, technical oils, heat transfer fluids, unpolymerized resins, gels, etc.
In short, virtually all material families can be analyzed, from solids to liquids, from bulk to powder, with a method adapted to each specific case.
Yes, some methods like LFA allow measurements up to several hundred degrees.
Yes, we carry out complete test plans: microstructure/performance correlations, formulation optimization, post-aging evaluation…
Thermal conductivity analysis is a laboratory testing method that measures the rate at which heat passes through a material. It is crucial for determining a material's insulation or heat dissipation efficiency.
How is a thermal conductivity measurement performed? Techniques vary depending on the sample type. Methods like Laser Flash (LFA) are ideal for solids and high temperatures, while the Hot Wire method is preferred for fluids and gels. DSC can also be used to measure specific heat capacity, which is required to calculate conductivity.
The main objective is to measure a material's ability to transmit heat. This analysis is essential for sizing thermal systems (electronics, batteries), choosing insulating or dissipating materials, and understanding abnormal heating issues in industrial components.
For polymers, thermal conductivity analysis helps study the effects of fillers, crystallinity levels, and aging on heat transfer. For composites (carbon or glass fibers), it is essential to characterize anisotropy, where thermal performance varies significantly depending on the fiber orientation.
Thermal conductivity is part of a broader thermal profile. In our laboratory, we often combine it with Thermal expansion measurement, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for stability, and DMA analysis for viscoelastic behavior to provide a full diagnostic of the material’s thermal health.
