The time rate of steady-state heat flow through a unit area of a homogeneous material induced by a unit temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to that unit area. In English inch x pound units of measurement, it is the number of British thermal units (Btu) that pass through a 1-inch thickness of a 1-square-foot sample of material in one hour with a temperature difference between the two surfaces of 1 degree Fahrenheit. In English inch x pound units, it is expressed as Btu x inch/h x ft2 x F.
Note 1: A thermal conductivity (k) value applies to 1-inch thickness of a specific material.
Note 2: It is mathematically incorrect to add, multiply or divide the thermal conductivity (k) value of a material to determine the thermal performance value of a different thickness of the same material. If it is necessary to determine the thermal performance of a specific thickness of a material, it is appropriate to convert the thermal conductivity (k) of the material to a thermal resistance (R) value i.e. R = 1/k and then perform the mathematical calculation.
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