Thermal conductivity instrument for porous and non-porous materials of various thicknesses

Background
Thermal conductivity, calculated by Fourier’s law, measures the rate of heat transfer through a material, while thermal resistance indicates its ability to resist heat flow and thus provide insulation. Currently, Several commercial thermal conductivity test instruments such as Togmeter, KES-F7 Thermolab-II, DTC-25, Alambeta, and guarded hot plate devices-employ these methods. However, these instruments face limitations, including restrictions on sample size, inability to test non-porous materials, limited thickness ranges, and insufficient temperature measurement points.
No existing single instrument can measure thermal conductivity accurately across both porous and non-porous materials over a wide thickness range (from 0.1 mm up to 10 cm or more) at a given temperature. This gap presents a significant challenge for industries and research fields requiring comprehensive thermal property evaluation across diverse material types.
Technology Details
This innovative thermal conductivity instrument is a closed-loop measurement system designed to accurately assess thermal properties of a wide variety of materials, including both porous and non-porous types. It is uniquely capable of testing flexible, fibrous textiles as well as rigid, non-air permeable materials such as composites, rubber, wood, and fiberboards. The system accommodates a broad range of sample thicknesses, from ultra-thin materials of 0.1 mm to thick specimens up to 10 cm or more, overcoming the limitations of existing instruments that are often restricted by thickness and material type.
A key feature of this setup is its ability to simultaneously measure thermal conductivity on two replicater, each measuring 300 x 300 mm, effectively doubling throughput compared to conventional single-sample instruments. This large sample area (600 x 600 mm combined) allows for better representation of material heterogeneity and more reliable results.
The instrument employs 16 strategically distributed temperature sensors to capture precise temperature gradients across the samples, enhancing the accuracy and reproducibility of the thermal conductivity measurements. This multi-sensor approach ensures detailed mapping of heat flow and temperature differentials, significantly improving measurement confidence.

The setup achieves faster results due to its optimized design that requires less time to reach steady-state thermal conditions, increasing testing efficiency. Its modular construction allows easy maintenance and potential upgrades, making it adaptable for diverse industrial and research applications.
Designed as an affordable and user-friendly alternative to imported commercial devices, this indigenous instrument supports Make in India initiatives by reducing dependency on costly foreign equipment. Its versatility makes it suitable for multiple sectors including textiles, construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, and energy, where precise thermal property evaluation is critical for product development and quality assurance.
Unique Features & Advantages
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Measures thermal conductivity of both porous and non-porous materials from 0.1 mm to over 10 cm thickness.
Tests two samples simultaneously (300 x 300 mm each) for increased throughput.
Uses 16 temperature sensors for high accuracy and reproducibility.
Large sample area of 600 x 600 mm improves representativeness.
Faster testing due to reduced time for steady-state conditions.
Compact and modular design enables easy maintenance and upgrades.
Cost-effective indigenous alternative supporting Make in India initiatives.
Applicable across textiles, construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, and energy sectors.