Thermal properties of

Materials
Understanding how materials respond to
temperature changes
Group_03

• Habiba Shahzad-030
• Iman Ihsan-056
• Zaira Butt-020
• Eman Fatima-100
• Mahrukh Naeem-084
• Alisha Jalil-110
• Mohsin Faraz-016
Introduction

Before moving to our main

topic let us have the meaning
of the word ‘Thermal’ first,
The word ‘Thermal’ means
Temperature and Heat.
What are Temperature and Heat?

• The temperature definition is,

Macroscopic: degree of measuring the hotness and coldness.
Microscopic: measure degree of vibration

• Whereas Heat is the energy that is transferred across the boundary of the
system to change the difference between the system and surroundings.

Note: Heat and Temperature are two different quantities. What we are giving
in the water is called Heat and the rising in the water is called Temperature.

E.g. I have taken a metal and kept it in the sun, then I am giving in heat and
the increase in the level of degree of hotness and coldness is temperature.

So these are the way that specific material will change the temperature and
their states.
Thermal Properties of Materials

• Thermal properties are those properties of a

material which is related to its conductivity of
heat. In other words, these are the properties
that are exhibited by a material when the heat is
passed through it.

• Thermal properties of material decide how it

reacts when it is subjected to heat fluctuation
(excessive heat or very low heat, for example).
The major components of thermal properties are:

 Specific Heat Capacity

 Thermal Conductivity
 Thermal Shock Resistance
 Thermal Expansion
 Thermal Diffusivity
 Melting point
 Boiling point
 Heat of Fusion
 Heat of Vaporization
 Thermal Stability
 Thermal Insulation
 Emittance
 Absorptivity
Specific Heat Capacity:

The amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg

mass of that substance through 1K.

Increase in temperature is directly proportional to the amount of heat absorbed.

∆𝑄 𝛼 ∆𝑇
Heat required to raise the temperature is proportional to the mass of the body.
∆𝑄 𝛼 𝑚
Combining, ∆𝑄 𝛼 𝑚∆𝑇
∆𝑄 = 𝑐𝑚∆𝑇
∆𝑄
𝑐=
𝑚∆𝑇
c is the specific heat capacity and is measured in J/kgK
 Importance of large Specific Heat Capacity:

Specific Heat of water is 𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟎𝑱𝒌𝒈−𝟏 𝑲−𝟏

Specific Heat of dry soil is 𝟖𝟏𝟎𝑱𝒌𝒈−𝟏 𝑲−𝟏

• A material with high specific heat capacity

requires more energy to heat up than a
material with low specific heat capacity.
• We use water instead of ice as a coolant in
the radiator because the water’s specific
heat is higher, the water can absorb more
heat as a comparison to ice.
• Metals such as iron and copper have low
SP and are used in cooking utensils.
Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct heat.

It is measured by the amount of heat that can flow through a given thickness of
material in a given time and is typically expressed in units of watts per meter per
kelvin (W/mK).
Materials with high thermal conductivity such as metals are good at transferring
heat while materials with low thermal conductivity such as insulators are poor
at transferring heat.
As; from figure
Q ∝ A …………...(i)
Q ∝ 𝑇1− 𝑇2 ……..(ii)
Q ∝ t ……...…....(iii)
1
Q ∝ …………...(iv)
𝑥
From equations i, ii, iii and iv

𝐴 (𝑇1− 𝑇2 ) 𝑡
𝑄∝
𝑥

𝑘𝐴 (𝑇1− 𝑇2 ) 𝑡
𝑄 =
𝑥

k = coefficient of thermal conductivity

𝑄𝑥 𝐽𝑚
k= = 2
𝐴∆𝑇𝑡 𝑚 𝑘𝑠

= J𝑠 −1 𝑚−1 𝑘 −1

= W𝑚−1 𝑘 −1

When,
A = 1 sq unit , ∆T = 1 unit
t = 1unit , x = 1 unit

Then,
k=Q
Thermal Shock Resistance

Thermal shock resistance, refers to the ability of a material to

withstand sudden and extreme changes in temperature without
undergoing damage or fracture.

This property is important in applications where

materials are subjected to rapid heating or
cooling, such as in heat exchangers, furnace
components, or electronic devices.
Materials with high thermal shock resistance,
such as ceramics and refractory metals, can
withstand thermal shocks without sustaining
damage, while materials with low thermal shock
resistance, such as glass and plastics, may crack
or shatter under thermal shock.
It is measured by the thermal shock resistance parameter R, which is
calculated using the following formula:
R = σ (1 - ν) / (α × E)

Where:-
R = Thermal shock resistance parameter
σ = Tensile strength of the material
ν = Poisson's ratio of the material
α = Coefficient of thermal expansion of the material
E = Young's modulus of the material

This formula indicates that materials with high tensile strength, low
Poisson's ratio, low Young's modulus and low coefficient of thermal
expansion will have high thermal shock resistance.
Thermal Expansion

Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in shape, area,

and volume in response to a change in temperature.

When heat is passed through a material, its shape changes. Generally, a material
expands when heated. This property of material is called thermal expansion.
There can be a change in area, volume and shape of the material.
For Example: Railway tracks often expands and as a result, get misshapen due
to extreme heat.
Types of Thermal Expansion:

Linear expansion is the change in length due to heat.

Formula:
∆𝑳
= 𝜶𝑳 ∆𝑻
𝑳𝟎

Area expansion is the change in area due to heat.

Formula:
∆𝑨
= 𝜶𝑨 ∆𝑻
𝑨𝟎

Volume expansion is the change in volume due to heat.

Formula:
∆𝑽
𝑽𝟎
= 𝜶𝑽 ∆𝑻
Thermal Diffusivity

It is defined as the ratio of thermal conductivity and thermal capacity of the

material.

It physically represents how quickly heat conduct or passes through

the material.

𝑲
α=
𝝆𝑪𝒑
Where:-
α the thermal diffusivity (m²/s)-
k is the thermal conductivity (W/m×K)
ρ is the density of the material (kg/m³)
𝐶𝑝 is the specific heat capacity (J/kg×K)
Thermal Diffusivity of Various Materials

Materials Thermal Diffusivity

Gold 127
Silver 165.63
Aluminium 97
Tin 40
Iron 23
Quartz 1.4
Ice at zero degrees 1.02
Brick 0.52
Glass 0.34
Melting Point:

The temperature at which solid changes its state to liquid at atmospheric

pressure is called the melting point of that liquid. This is the point at
which both liquid and solid phase exists at equilibrium.

• It is a characteristics of substance but also

depends on pressure.
• The melting point of a substance at
standard atmospheric pressure is called
normal melting point.
 Melting Point
Determination:
The melting point is determined in a
capillary tube. The temperature at
which the substance is completely
melted indicated by the disappearance
of the solid, will be in the range of +
or -4℃ from the stated value, unless
otherwise indicated.
Boiling Point:

The boiling point of liquid is the temperature at which the vapor pressure
of the liquid becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure of the liquids
environment. At this temperature, the liquid is converted into vapor.

• Boiling is a physical change and boiling point is a

physical property.
• Normal boiling point: temperature at which the vapor
pressure is equal to the sea level atm pressure.
• It also depends on the purity of water. Water that
contains impurities (such as salted water) boils at a
higher temperature than pure water. This phenomenon
is called boiling point elevation, which is one of the
colligative properties of matter.
 Boiling Point Determination:
As the apparatus is heated, the air initially
trapped in the capillary tube expands and
causes bubbles to emerge from the tube.
With further heating, the liquid's vapors
eventually displace all of the trapped air,
which is why heat is applied until there is
a continuous stream of bubbles. When the
apparatus cooled, eventually the pressure
inside the capillary tube will match the
atmospheric pressure, at which point the
bubbles will slow and liquid will be
drawn into the tube. The temperature
where this begins is the liquid's boiling
point.
Heat of Fusion

It is the quantity of heat necessary to change 1g of a solid to a

liquid with no temperature change.

• It is also known as latent heat and sometimes latent heat of fusion.

• Units: J/g or J/mol
Q= m.𝑳𝒇 (latent heat of fusion of ice= 3.36× 105 J/kg)
Where:-
Q the heat (Joule J)
m mass of solid (kilogram kg)
𝐿𝑓 latent heat of fusion (J/kg)
Principle of Thermodynamics:

i. Energy Absorption during phase change

During phase change from solid to liquid,
a substance absorbs energy from its
surroundings.

ii. Temperature Stability

This absorbed energy does not
change/increase the temperature substance.
Instead it is used to break the intermolecular
bonds that hold the molecules in a rigid
structure in solid phase.
Heat of Vaporization

It can defined as the process in which liquid state changes

into vapor state.

• The result of an increase in temperature, K.E of molecules increases. Due to

this force of attraction between molecules reduces. As a result, they escape
into surroundings (involves heat energy).
𝑸
𝑯𝒗 =
𝒎
Units:-
• kJ/mol for molar heat of vaporization
• J/g for specific heat of vaporization
Types Of Vaporization:
i. Evaporation
ii. Boiling

i. Evaporation:
It occurs at temperature lower than the boiling temperature at given pressure,
it always occur on surface. That means the water suddenly escapes into
atmosphere (no bubbles formation).

ii. Boiling:
It is similar to evaporation. Also known as phase transition from liquid to
gas, but boiling is formation of vapors as bubbles of high temperature water
below the surface of liquid just like we keep the water jar on high flame, it turns
to bubbles and then the steam escapes into atmosphere.
Thermal Stability

• Thermal stability refers to the ability of a

substance or system to resist changes in
temperature when subjected to external
influences.
• In heat and thermodynamics, it often relates to
how well a material can maintain its properties
or structural integrity when exposed to heat or
temperature variations.
• Materials with high thermal stability are
resistant to thermal degradation or structural
changes over a range of temperatures.
Example:-
A real-life example is ceramic cookware, which
maintains its structure and properties even when
exposed to high temperatures during cooking.

The formula used to describe thermal stability is the heat capacity formula.
Q= mc∆T
Where:-
Q is the amount of heat transferred
m is the mass of the substance
c is the scientific heat capacity of the substance
∆T is the change in temperature
Thermal Insulation

• Thermal insulation is the process of reducing heat

transfer between objects in thermal contact or
within the range of radiative influence.
• Insulation works by providing a barrier that
minimizes flow of heat, either by reflecting
thermal radiation or reducing thermal conduction
and convection.
• In heat and thermodynamics, thermal insulation
refers to materials or methods used to reduce the
rate of heat transfer between objects or
environments. It minimizes heat flow Via
conduction, Convection and radiation.
Example:
In airplanes, thermal insulation is crucial
for maintaining a comfortable cabin
temperature. The material which are used
for thermal insulation in aero planes are
Fiber glass, foam and specialized thermal
blankets. These materials insulate the cabin
temperatures from external cold which can
be as low as -60°C

The formula for thermal insulation is:

R-value = thickness of the insulation / ƛ-value
Emittance

The emissive power of a body at a given temperature and for a given wavelength
λ is defined as
The amount of radiant energy emitted per unit time per unit
surface area
Emissive power donated by ‘e’
𝑄
e=
𝐴𝑡
Q∝A
Q∝t
Q = eA
𝑄
=e
𝐴𝑡
Also, depend on material. Because different material have different emissive
power
SI Unit:
SI unit of Emissive Power is
J
m2 s
or
𝑊
𝑚2
eλ = Spectral emissive power

For Example:
Emissivity of Aluminum foil is 0.03
Emissivity of Ice is 0.97
Emissivity of Human Skin is 0.98
Absorptivity

The absorptive power of a body for a given wavelength λ is defined

As the ratio of amount of heat energy absorbed to the total heat

energy incident on it

It is denoted by ‘a’
Formula:
Heat Energy Obsorbed
a=
Heat Energy Incident
Value of absorptive power is
0≤a≤1
If a = 1
then called ideal absorber
If a = 0
then called ideal reflector
𝑎𝜆 → Spectral absorptive power

Perfectly Absorber:
Black body is a good absorber of radiations
fall on it
So,
the absorptive power is 1
e.g
Black Umbrella
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