High Thermal Conductivity and Low Thermal Conductivity Solids
Abstract
In the application of solids as a heat transfer medium one is usually interested in very high thermal conductivity solids or very low thermal conductivity solids. Those with intermediate values are then considered to be “normal” solids. Most people know that silver [ 1 ] is the highest thermal conductivity metal at room temperature with a thermal conductivity, κ, of 4.3 watt/cm-K. The highest thermal conductivity non-metal at room temperature is diamond. A high-purity, synthetic diamond [ 2 ] with natural abundance carbon isotopes has a value of κ=20 watt/cm-K; five times higher than silver.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Thermal properties of materials
Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 308–315
- Publication date
- 2 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter