thermal diffusivity
Heat conduction rate
Thermal diffusivity measures how quickly heat spreads through a material—the ratio of thermal conductivity to heat capacity.
A material with high thermal diffusivity distributes temperature changes rapidly; one with low diffusivity resists them.
The property matters in engineering contexts where heat transfer timing is critical: The thermal diffusivity of aluminum makes it effective for heat sinks.
- heat conductionEnergy flow through matter
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- phase changeMatter switching physical states
- building insulationMaterial reducing heat transfer
- heat sinkDevice absorbing component warmth
density · steady state · cooling rate · metals · ceramics · alloys · polymers · coefficient · heat exchangers · flux · transfer · specific heat · warming · gradient · heat · material · steady-state · cooling
- heatheat transfer, heatwave, radiation, convection, insulators
- heat transferconduction, convection, heat flow, heat transfer, conductors
- thermal propertiesheat capacity, specific heat, heat transfer, boiling point, melting point
- thermodynamicsentropy, enthalpy, heat transfer, free energy, heat capacity