Image-Based Rapid Measurements of Temperature-Dependent Thermal Conductivities

This study establishes an image-based approach to determine the thermal conductivity of a metal material as a function of temperature using isotherm movement. The thermal conductivity within a range of temperature can be derived from a combined experimental and theoretical study based on Wiedemann-Franz law. A cubic relation between heating time and distance from heat source has been observed, proved, and used to determine the thermal conductivity at different temperature. The temporal and spatial information provided by infrared imaging allow continuous temperature dependence of thermal conductivity to be derived with high accuracy. This method has the potential to determine thermal conductivities of multiple samples at high throughput, and to derive thermal conductivity along different crystal orientation in a thermally anisotropic system.