Thermal Conductivity

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While looking into insulating a Hot End and Heated Bed I found this information on the thermal conductivity of many different widely available materials. So I figured might be useful.

Original source Thermal Conductivity and


  • 1 W/(m.K) = 1 W/(m.oC) = 0.85984 kcal/(hr.m.oC) = 0.5779 Btu/(ft.hr.oF)

    Thermal Conductivity - k - W/(m.K)
    Material/Substance Temperature - oC
    25 125 225
    Acetone 0.16
    Acrylic 0.2
    Air (gas) 0.024
    Alcohol 0.17
    Aluminum 250 255 250
    Aluminum Oxide 30
    Ammonia (gas) 0.022
    Antimony 18.5
    Argon (gas) 0.016
    Asbestos-cement board 0.744
    Asbestos-cement sheets 0.166
    Asbestos-cement 2.07
    Asbestos, loosely packed 0.15
    Asbestos mill board 0.14    
    Asphalt 0.75
    Balsa 0.048
    Bitumen 0.17
    Benzene 0.16
    Beryllium 218
    Brass 109
    Brick dense 1.31
    Brick work 0.69
    Cadmium 92
    Carbon 1.7
    Carbon dioxide (gas) 0.0146    
    Cement, portland 0.29
    Cement, mortar 1.73
    Chalk 0.09    
    Chrome Nickel Steel (18% Cr, 8 % Ni) 16.3    
    Clay, dry to moist 0.15 - 1.8    
    Clay, saturated 0.6 - 2.5    
    Cobalt 69
    Concrete, light 0.42
    Concrete, stone 1.7    
    Constantan 22
    Copper 401 400 398
    Corian (ceramic filled) 1.06
    Corkboard 0.043
    Cork, regranulated 0.044
    Cork 0.07
    Cotton 0.03
    Carbon Steel 54 51 47
    Cotton Wool insulation 0.029
    Diatomaceous earth (Sil-o-cel) 0.06
    Earth, dry 1.5    
    Engine Oil 0.15
    Ether 0.14
    Epoxy 0.35
    Ethylene glycol 0.25
    Felt insulation 0.04
    Fiberglass 0.04
    Fiber insulating board 0.048
    Fiber hardboard 0.2    
    Fireclay brick 500oC 1.4
    Foam glass 0.045
    Freon 12 (gas) 0.073    
    Freon (liquid) 0.07
    Gasoline 0.15
    Glass 1.05
    Glass, Pearls, dry 0.18
    Glass, Pearls, saturated 0.76
    Glass, window 0.96    
    Glass, wool Insulation 0.04
    Glycerol 0.28
    Gold 310 312 310
    Granite 1.7 - 4.0
    Gypsum or plaster board 0.17
    Hairfelt 0.05    
    Hardboard high density 0.15
    Hardwoods (oak, maple..) 0.16
    Helium (gas) 0.142
    Hydrogen (gas) 0.168
    Ice (0oC, 32oF) 2.18
    Insulation materials 0.035 - 0.16
    Iridium 147
    Iron 80 68 60
    Iron, wrought 59
    Iron, cast 55
    JB Weld 0.59
    Kapok insulation 0.034
    Kerosene 0.15
    Lead Pb 35
    Leather, dry 0.14
    Limestone 1.26 - 1.33
    Magnesia insulation (85%) 0.07
    Magnesite 4.15    
    Magnesium 156
    Marble 2.08 - 2.94
    Mercury 8
    Methane (gas) 0.030
    Methanol 0.21
    Mica 0.71
    Mineral insulation materials, wool blankets .. 0.04    
    Molybdenum 138
    Monel 26
    Nickel 91
    Nitrogen 0.024
    Nylon 6 0.25
    Oil, machine lubricating SAE 50 0.15
    Olive oil 0.17
    Oxygen 0.024
    Paper 0.05
    Paraffin Wax 0.25
    Perlite, atmospheric pressure 0.031    
    Perlite, vacuum 0.00137    
    Plaster, gypsum 0.48
    Plaster, metal lath 0.47
    Plaster, wood lath 0.28
    Plastics, foamed (insulation materials) 0.03    
    Platinum 70 71 72
    Plywood 0.13
    Polyethylene HD 0.42 - 0.51
    Polypropylene 0.1 - 0.22    
    Polystyrene expanded 0.03
    Polyurethane foam 0.02
    Porcelain 1.5
    PTFE 0.25
    PVC 0.19
    Pyrex glass 1.005
    Quartz mineral 3
    Rock, solid 2 - 7    
    Rock, porous volcanic (Tuff) 0.5 - 2.5    
    Rock Wool insulation 0.045
    Sand, dry 0.15 - 0.25
    Sand, moist 0.25 - 2    
    Sand, saturated 2 - 4
    Sandstone 1.7    
    Sawdust 0.08
    Silica aerogel 0.02    
    Silicone oil 0.1
    Silver 429
    Snow (temp < 0oC) 0.05 - 0.25
    Sodium 84
    Softwoods (fir, pine ..) 0.12
    Soil, with organic matter 0.15 - 2    
    Soil, saturated 0.6 - 4    
    Steel, Carbon 1% 43
    Stainless Steel 16 17 19
    Straw insulation 0.09
    Styrofoam 0.033
    Tin Sn 67
    Zinc Zn 116
    Urethane foam 0.021    
    Vermiculite 0.058    
    Vinyl ester 0.25
    Water 0.58
    Water, vapor (steam) 0.016
    Wood across the grain, white pine 0.12
    Wood across the grain, balsa 0.055
    Wood across the grain, yellow pine 0.147
    Wood, oak 0.17    
    Wool, felt 0.07
    • 1 W/(m.K) = 1 W/(m.oC) = 0.85984 kcal/(h.m.oC) = 0.5779 Btu/(ft.h.oF) = 0.048 Btu/(in.h.oF)