Related Resources: heat transfer

Thermal Diffusivity Table

Heat Transfer Engineering and Design

In heat transfer analysis, thermal diffusivity is the thermal conductivity divided by density and specific heat capacity at constant pressure. It measures the rate of transfer of heat of a material from the hot side to the cold side. It has the SI unit of m²/s. Thermal diffusivity is usually denoted α but a , κ ,K , and D are also used. The formula is:

α = k / ( ρ c_p )

where

• k is thermal conductivity (W/(m·K))
• ρ is density (kg/m³)
• c_p is specific heat capacity (J/(kg·K))

Thermal diffusivity of selected materials and substances

Material	Thermal Diffusivity (m2/s )	Thermal Diffusivity (mm2/s )
Pyrolytic graphite , parallel to layers	1.22 × 10−3	1220
Silver, pure (99.9%)	1.6563 × 10-4	165.63
Gold	1.27 × 10-4	127
Copper at 25 °C	1.11 × 10-4	111
Aluminium	9.7 × 10-5	97
Al-10Si-Mn-Mg (Silafont 36) at 20 °C	74.2 × 10−6	74.2
Aluminium 6061-T6 Alloy	6.4 × 10-5	64
Al-5Mg-2Si-Mn (Magsimal-59) at 20 °C	44.0 × 10−6	44.0
Steel , AISI 1010 (0.1% carbon)	1.88 x 10-5	18.8
Steel , 1% carbon	1.172 × 10-5	11.72
Steel, stainless 304A at 27 °C	4.2 × 10−6	4.2
Steel, stainless 310 at 25 °C	3.352 × 10−6	3.352
Inconel 600 at 25 °C	3.428 × 10−6	3.428
Molybdenum (99.95%) at 25 °C	54.3 × 10-6	54.3
Iron	2.3 × 10 -5	23
Silicon	8.8 × 10 -5	88
Quartz	1.4 × 10-6	1.4
Carbon/carbon composite at 25 °C	2.165 × 10 -4	216.5
Aluminium oxide (polycrystalline)	1.20 × 10 -5	12.0
Silicon Dioxide (Polycrystalline)	8.3 × 10 -7	0.83
Si 3 N 4 with CNTs 26 °C	9.142 × 10-6	9.142
Si 3 N 4 without CNTs 26 °C	8.605 × 10-6	8.605
PC (Polycarbonate) at 25 °C	0.144 × 10-6	0.144
PP (Polypropylene) at 25 °C	0.096 × 10-6	0.096
Paraffin at 25 °C	0.081 × 10-6	0.081
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)	8 × 10 -8	0.08
PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene) at 25 °C	0.124 × 10-6	0.124
Water at 25 °C	0.143 × 10-6	0.143
Alcohol	7 × 10 -8	0.07
Water vapour (1 atm, 400 K)	2.338 × 10 -5	23.38
Air (300 K)	1.9 × 10 -5	19
Argon (300 K, 1 atm)	2.2 × 10 -5	22
Helium (300 K, 1 atm)	1.9 × 10 -4	190
Hydrogen (300 K, 1 atm)	1.6 × 10 -4	160
Nitrogen (300 K, 1 atm)	2.2 × 10 -5	22
Pyrolytic graphite, normal to layers	3.6 × 10-6	3.6
Sandstone	1.12–1.19 × 10-6	1.15
Tin	4.0 × 10 -5	40
Brick, common	5.2 × 10 -7	0.52
Brick, adobe	2.7 × 10 -7	0.27
Glass, window	3.4 × 10 -7	0.34
Rubber	0.89 - 1.3 × 10 -7	0.089 - 0.13
Nylon	9 × 10 -8	0.09
Wood (Yellow Pine)	8.2 × 10 -8	0.082
Oil, engine (saturated liquid, 100 °C)	7.38 × 10 -8	0.0738