DETERMINATION OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF SOME MATERIALS USING SEARLE'S BAR AND INGEN HOUSZ EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

The characteristic properties of metals like high strength and heat conductivity make them adaptable for different purposes. Heat sink in electronics, heat exhaust in cars and sophisticated machines, soldering irons, roofing sheets, metal doors, bridges, bullets etc. If a metal is used for any of the purposes without properly taken into consideration its Thermal Conductivity (TC), the material may fail in short time. Thermal conductivity (TC) of six different metals were determined using Searle's Bar Method (SBM) and Ingen Housz Experimental Method (IHEM). SBM was used for copper, aluminum and iron while IHEM was used for copper, aluminum, lead, Zink, brass, and iron. Both SBM and IHEM show that copper has the highest TC value and thus should be used as soldering iron tips, and aluminum which is next to copper could be used as heat sink in electronics. The value of TC for iron is obtained low and with property of high strength, it is recommended to be used as silencer and heat exhauster.