Jul 28, 2014

A proposed new ASTM International standard will aid in understanding thermal transport properties, an important component in optimizing the energy efficiency of building materials and improving thermal design in electronics, fuel cells and batteries.

The test described in ASTM WK46204, Test Method for Determination of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity of Solids and Fluids Using the Transient Plane Source or Hot Disc Method, can be designed to match different specimen sizes and to allow for measurements to be made in gaseous and vacuum environments at a range of temperatures and pressures. The test can be conducted on a wide range of materials with limited effort required for sample preparation. Solid-state components made from materials such as composites, single-phase and granular material can be tested. In addition, testing per ASTM WK46204 can also be performed on liquids from low-viscosity fluids to high-viscosity plates.

“ASTM WK46204 will most likely be used by laboratories developing or modifying new materials and studying how specific materials behave at different temperatures and pressures,” says ASTM member Mattias Gustavsson, Ph.D., CEO of Hot Disk AB. “The proposed standard will be useful for applications and quality control testing in the pharmaceutical, automobile and aviation industries.”

Gustavsson cites three main ways in which ASTM WK46204 will be used once it has been approved:

• Development or assessment of thermally insulated materials;
• Development or assessment of thermally conductive materials or composite structures; and
• Empirically connecting hot disc test results with variations in structural constitution of a material. 

ASTM WK46204 is being developed by Subcommittee E37.05 on Thermophysical Properties, part of ASTM International Committee E37 on Thermal Measurements. All interested parties are welcome to join in the standards developing activities of E37.

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-metals or follow us on Twitter @ASTMMetals.

ASTM Committee E37 Next Meeting: Aug. 29, University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials, Newark, Del.
Technical Contact: Mattias Gustavsson, Ph.D., Hot Disk AB, Gothenburg, Sweden, Phone: +46-31-411-410; mattias.gustavsson@hotdiskinstruments.com  
ASTM Staff Contact: Thomas O’Toole, Phone: 610-832-9739; totoole@astm.org 
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9629