# Talk:List of thermal conductivities

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## Cleanup-list Tag

The condition of this list has previously been discussed in Talk:Thermal conductivity#Example values for common elements OK?. It got some work done, but I think I need to be more specific:

• The Electrical Conductivity column, which is more acceptable on a page dedicated to this list, has far too many expressions for the same unit.
• Some materials have their composition described in the Material column, which makes that column hard to scan -- this information could go in the notes.
• Some material compositions link to oxides rather than the elements, which suggests something different from what the text itself says.
• The reference superscripts make the table a burden to read, and the way they've been used inconsistently between the conductivity and temperature columns makes them unhelpful.

Also, in an ideal world, the temperature would be specified once, and all materials would be measured at that temperature. Specifying two ranges isn't at all clear, most particularly when the references for the ranges aren't consistent with the references for the conductivities. This problem has stopped me from making a separate Reference column to clarify the table. --ToobMug 13:55, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

I believe mixtures have variable compositions so there is a range of thermal conductivities. However PURE compounds should not have this problem. AquaDTRS (talk) 03:35, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

Regarding the reference superscripts: Perhaps they should be moved to the end of the numbers, e.g. 12345g instead of g12345. The table does not sort properly if they are written with preceding superscripts. I will make this change and if I am violating some wikipedia rule, please let me know here and revert it. 208.79.244.67 (talk) 18:49, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Should a "Typical" k be added to allow for sorting?Jim1138 (talk) 06:46, 19 July 2009 (UTC)

## Request for data

First, a vacuum should be included for reference.

Second, carbon dioxide and methane gases should be included too. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.229.123.10 (talk) 06:55, 1 December 2009 (UTC)

As far as I know, vacuum does not conduct heat, although it can transfer it by radiation. Platinum should be added for its use in temperature measurements. YBCO would be a nice (but challanging) addition. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.182.0.21 (talk) 01:38, 18 July 2010 (UTC)

Heat transfer through the vacuum does not conform to Fourier's law. For most materials, energy flux between two planes is proportional to cross section and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates (hence the thermal conductivity coefficient has m^-1 in the dimensionality). The flux between two close parallel planes in the vacuum is not related to the distance between them (to the first order). Instead it is governed by Stefan-Boltzmann law, $J \approx 4 A \sigma T^3 \Delta T$. At room temperature, $J \approx cA \Delta T$, where c = 5.7 W/(m^2 K). --Itinerant1 (talk) 22:05, 4 August 2012 (UTC)

Some of the temperatures cited in the properties table are negative(in kelvin), that has to be a mistake clearly. someone should take a look at it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.94.65.124 (talk) 16:32, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

## Thermal Conductivity Common Liquids

Common fluids and their thermal conductivity[1]

Thermal Conductivity of some common liquids
at a temperature of 300 K

Fluid   Thermal Conductivity (W/m K)

Acetic acid     0.193
Acetone         0.180
Alcohol, ethyl (ethanol)        0.171
Alcohol, methyl (methanol)      0.202
Alcohol, propyl         0.161
Ammonia, saturated      0.507
Aniline         0.172
Benzene         0.167
n-Butyl alcohol         0.167
Carbon Disulfide        0.161
Carbon Tetrachloride    0.104
Castor Oil      0.180
Chloroform      0.129
Decane  0.147
Dodecane        0.140
Engine Oil, unused      0.145
Ether   0.130
Ethyl acetate   0.137
Ethylene Glycol         0.258
Freon refrigerant R-11  0.093
Freon refrigerant R-12  0.071
Glycerine       0.285
n-Heptane       0.140
Hexane  0.124
Isobutyl alcohol        0.134
Kerosene        0.145
Methyl alcohol  0.212
n-Octane        0.147
n-Pentane       0.136
Phenol  0.190
Propylene glycol        0.147
Transformer oil         0.110
Toluene         0.151
Turpentine      0.128
Water, Fresh    0.609


-96.237.79.6 (talk) 00:55, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

## Problem with the ordering

There seems to be some problem when ordering by Thermal conductivity. When trying to order from least to most conductor the Polyethylene foam goes nearly the end of the list where it should be at the start. I have tried formating the values differently but it doesn't seem to have helped. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.65.96.188 (talk) 12:06, 21 October 2010 (UTC)

## Clean up idea

What if, instead of the link to the source immediately after the number, make the number linked to the source? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.2.65.36 (talk) 01:04, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

I knew copper and not silver is the best heat conductor. Can someone pls verify if I’m wrong?86.121.79.3 (talk) 04:28, 26 September 2014 (UTC)