Calculate how quickly heat spreads through a material.
Material Properties
W/(m·K)
kg/m³
J/(kg·K)
Calculation Results
Enter conductivity, density, and specific heat
About this calculator
Quick Reference
αThermal Diffusivity
kThermal Conductivity
ρDensity
cpSpecific Heat Capacity
Overview
Thermal diffusivity (α) is a material-specific property for unsteady heat conduction. It measures the ability of a material to conduct thermal energy relative to its ability to store it.
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Pro Tips
Materials with high thermal diffusivity adjust faster to their thermal environment.
Metals usually have much higher diffusivity than wood or insulation.
The formula is α = k / (ρ · cp).
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Fun Facts
"Silver and copper have some of the highest thermal diffusivities among common materials."
"Water has a very low thermal diffusivity, meaning it takes a long time to heat up or cool down throughout its volume."
"In a thermal image, materials with high diffusivity will show temperature changes much more rapidly."
