Thermal Conductivity Converter - Convert W/m·K, BTU/hr·ft·°F & More Units
Input Value
1 W/m·K
Converted Value
0.57778921 BTU/hr·ft·°F
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What is Thermal Conductivity?
What
Thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat. It shows how fast heat moves through a material.
Why
We need to measure thermal conductivity to choose the right materials for buildings, electronics, and cooking items.
Applications
Used in home insulation, cooking pots, computer cooling, car engines, and building construction.
Thermal conductivity tells us how well a material can transfer heat. Materials with high thermal conductivity like copper and aluminum move heat quickly. Materials with low thermal conductivity like wood and plastic move heat slowly. This property is very important when we design buildings, choose cooking materials, or make electronic devices. The unit W/m·K means watts per meter kelvin and is the most common way to measure thermal conductivity.
How It Works
Enter Value
Type the thermal conductivity number you want to convert
Select Units
Choose the unit you have and the unit you need
Common Examples
Copper (Metal)
Thermal Conductivity: 385 W/m·K
Equals: 222.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Cooking pots, heat sinks, wires
Aluminum (Metal)
Thermal Conductivity: 205 W/m·K
Equals: 118.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Cookware, car radiators, electronics
Steel (Metal)
Thermal Conductivity: 50 W/m·K
Equals: 28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Building frames, pipes, tools
Glass (Non-metal)
Thermal Conductivity: 1.0 W/m·K
Equals: 0.578 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Windows, bottles, cookware
Wood (Insulator)
Thermal Conductivity: 0.15 W/m·K
Equals: 0.087 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Furniture, building, handles
Air (Gas)
Thermal Conductivity: 0.026 W/m·K
Equals: 0.015 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Use: Insulation, double-pane windows
Thermal Conductivity Conversion Table
| W/m·K | BTU/hr·ft·°F | cal/s·cm·°C | kcal/hr·m·°C | W/cm·K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0578 | 0.000239 | 0.086 | 0.001 |
| 0.5 | 0.2889 | 0.001195 | 0.430 | 0.005 |
| 1 | 0.5778 | 0.002390 | 0.860 | 0.010 |
| 2 | 1.1556 | 0.004780 | 1.720 | 0.020 |
| 5 | 2.8889 | 0.011950 | 4.299 | 0.050 |
| 10 | 5.7779 | 0.023901 | 8.598 | 0.100 |
| 20 | 11.5558 | 0.047801 | 17.197 | 0.200 |
| 50 | 28.8895 | 0.119503 | 42.992 | 0.500 |
| 100 | 57.7789 | 0.239006 | 85.985 | 1.000 |
| 150 | 86.6684 | 0.358509 | 128.977 | 1.500 |
| 200 | 115.5578 | 0.478011 | 171.969 | 2.000 |
| 300 | 173.3368 | 0.717017 | 257.954 | 3.000 |
| 400 | 231.1157 | 0.956023 | 343.938 | 4.000 |
| 500 | 288.8946 | 1.195029 | 429.923 | 5.000 |
| 1000 | 577.7892 | 2.390057 | 859.845 | 10.000 |
*All conversions are calculated from the base unit W/m·K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is thermal conductivity?
Thermal conductivity is how well a material can move heat from one place to another. High values mean heat moves fast, low values mean heat moves slowly.
What is the unit W/m·K?
W/m·K means watts per meter kelvin. It tells us how many watts of heat pass through one meter of material when the temperature difference is one kelvin.
Which materials have high thermal conductivity?
Metals like copper, aluminum, and silver have high thermal conductivity. They are good for cooking pots, heat sinks, and radiators because they move heat quickly.
Which materials have low thermal conductivity?
Wood, plastic, foam, and air have low thermal conductivity. These materials are good insulators and are used in building walls, handles, and winter clothes.
How do I convert W/m·K to BTU/hr·ft·°F?
To convert W/m·K to BTU/hr·ft·°F, divide the value by 1.730735. For example, 10 W/m·K equals 5.78 BTU/hr·ft·°F.
Why is thermal conductivity important?
Thermal conductivity helps us choose the right materials for different jobs. We need good conductors for cooking and cooling, and good insulators for saving energy in homes.
What affects thermal conductivity?
The type of material, temperature, and structure affect thermal conductivity. Metals conduct heat better than non-metals. Dense materials usually conduct better than light materials.
Where is thermal conductivity used in daily life?
We use it in cooking pots, building insulation, computer cooling, car engines, refrigerators, and clothing. It helps keep things hot or cold as needed.
Understanding Thermal Conductivity Units
W/m·K (Watt per Meter Kelvin)
This is the most common unit for thermal conductivity. It shows how much heat energy in watts passes through one meter of material when there is a one kelvin temperature difference.
Example: Copper has 385 W/m·K, which means it conducts heat very well.
BTU/hr·ft·°F (British Thermal Unit per Hour Foot Fahrenheit)
This unit is commonly used in the United States and UK. It measures how many BTUs of heat pass through one foot of material in one hour with a one degree Fahrenheit temperature difference.
Example: Steel has about 28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F thermal conductivity.
cal/s·cm·°C (Calorie per Second Centimeter Celsius)
This unit is used in scientific research. It shows how many calories of heat pass through one centimeter of material per second with a one degree Celsius temperature difference.
Example: Aluminum has about 0.49 cal/s·cm·°C thermal conductivity.
kcal/hr·m·°C (Kilocalorie per Hour Meter Celsius)
This unit is used in some engineering applications. It measures heat flow in kilocalories per hour through one meter of material with a one degree Celsius temperature difference.
Example: Glass has about 0.86 kcal/hr·m·°C thermal conductivity.
Practical Applications of Thermal Conductivity
🏠 Building and Construction
Thermal conductivity helps builders choose the right insulation materials. Low conductivity materials like fiberglass and foam keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer. This saves energy and reduces electricity bills.
Common materials: Fiberglass (0.04 W/m·K), Foam (0.03 W/m·K), Brick (0.6 W/m·K)
🍳 Cooking and Kitchenware
Pots and pans need high thermal conductivity to spread heat evenly. Copper and aluminum are popular choices because they heat up quickly and cook food uniformly. Handles use low conductivity materials to stay cool.
Common materials: Copper pots (385 W/m·K), Aluminum pans (205 W/m·K), Wooden handles (0.15 W/m·K)
💻 Electronics and Computers
Computer chips get very hot when working. Heat sinks made of aluminum or copper pull heat away from chips to prevent damage. Thermal paste between chips and heat sinks improves heat transfer.
Common materials: Aluminum heat sinks (205 W/m·K), Copper heat sinks (385 W/m·K), Thermal paste (3-8 W/m·K)
🚗 Automotive Industry
Car engines produce lots of heat. Radiators use aluminum or copper to move heat from the engine to the air. Good thermal conductivity prevents engines from overheating and keeps cars running smoothly.
Common materials: Aluminum radiators (205 W/m·K), Copper radiators (385 W/m·K), Coolant fluid (0.6 W/m·K)
❄️ Refrigeration and Cooling
Refrigerators and air conditioners use materials with good thermal conductivity to remove heat. The cooling coils are made of copper or aluminum to transfer heat efficiently from inside to outside.
Common materials: Copper coils (385 W/m·K), Aluminum fins (205 W/m·K), Insulation foam (0.03 W/m·K)
👕 Clothing and Textiles
Winter clothes use materials with low thermal conductivity to trap body heat. Summer clothes use materials that allow heat to escape. This helps us stay comfortable in different weather conditions.
Common materials: Wool (0.04 W/m·K), Cotton (0.06 W/m·K), Synthetic fibers (0.05 W/m·K)
Tips for Using the Thermal Conductivity Converter
Check Your Units
Make sure you select the correct unit you are converting from. Different countries use different units for thermal conductivity.
Use Decimal Points
For accurate results, use decimal points when entering values. For example, enter 0.5 instead of 1/2.
Verify Results
Use the conversion table to quickly check if your result makes sense. High values should stay high, low values should stay low.
Understand Context
Know what thermal conductivity value is normal for your material. Metals are usually above 50 W/m·K, insulators are below 1 W/m·K.
Save Your Results
Write down or screenshot your conversion results for future reference. This helps when working on projects.
Compare Materials
Use the converter to compare thermal conductivity of different materials. This helps you choose the best material for your needs.