Thermal Diffusivity


thermal diffusivity

[′thər·məl ‚di·fyü′siv·əd·ē] (physics) diffusivity

Thermal Diffusivity

 

a physical parameter of a substance that characterizes the rate of change of its temperature in transient thermal processes. Thermal diffusivity is a measure of the thermal-inertia properties of a substance. It is numerically equal to the ratio of the substance’s thermal conductivity and the product of its specific heat (at constant pressure) and density. Thermal diffusivity is expressed in m2/sec.

thermal diffusivity

The thermal conductivity divided by the product of the specific heat and unit weight; an index of the ease with which a material undergoes a change in temperature.