Thermal Conductivity of Nickel and Uranium

Authors

G. J. Pearson, Iowa State CollegeFollow
P. O. Davey, Iowa State College
G. C. Danielson, Iowa State CollegeFollow

Document Type

Research

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of a metal can be measured at any temperature by a method in which the conductivity of the metal under investigation is compared with the known conductivity of some metal chosen as a standard (1). The rate of heat flow, Q, in a cylindrical specimen of unknown conductivity, is given by the equation Q = - K₁AG₁, where K_i is the unknown thermal conductivity, A is the cross-sectional area, and G₁ = (ΔT/Ax)₁ is the temperature gradient. If a cylindrical bar of equal cross-sectional area and known thermal conductivity, K₂, is placed in series with the specimen so that the rate of heat flow is the same in both bars, we have Q = -K₂AG₂, where G2 = (ΔT/ΔX)₂ is the temperature gradient in the standard sample. From these two expressions for Q, the unknown thermal conductivity, K₁ = (G₂/G₁)K₂, can be found if the temperature gradients in the two rods are measured. In principle, the comparison method is simple but, in practice, complications may arise at high temperatures in providing good thermal contacts, in preventing radial heat losses, and in making reliable temperature measurements. The method has not, therefore, been characterized by high precision at elevated temperatures. The purpose of this investigation was (a) to develop improvements in the apparatus for measuring thermal conductivities of metals at high temperatures by the comparison method, and (b) to determine the thermal conductivities of nickel and uranium in the temperature range 100° C. to 650° C. by the comparison method.

Publication Date

1957

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

64

Issue

1

First Page

461

Last Page

465

Copyright

©1957 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Pearson, G. J.; Davey, P. O.; and Danielson, G. C. (1957) "Thermal Conductivity of Nickel and Uranium," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 64(1), 461-465.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol64/iss1/50