Category: Transient Plane Source
Author(s): Yi He
Keywords: accuracy, electrical resistance, material types, specific heat capacity, temperature, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal transport properties
Abstract: This article explains the theory behind the Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique. The method measures the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of materials (solids, liquids, gels, etc.), in a rapid, non-invasive and highly accurate manner. The TPS method is a great technique to be used for thermal characterization as it has a wider thermal conductivity range (0.005 – 500 W/mK) and an easy set-up. The sensor serves as both a temperature gauge and a heat provider. To avoid biases, the sensor determines a temperature change in the sensor, by measuring the electrical resistance of the sensor. When the change in temperature is analyzed as a function of time, the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the material can be calculated using Fourier’s law of heat transfer.
Reference: Thermochimica Acta 436 (2005) 122-129
DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2005.06.026