Thermal Properties of Materials

What are Thermal Properties of Materials ?

These are the properties that are exhibited by a material when the heat is passed
through it.
Thermal properties of material decide how it reacts when it is subjected to heat
fluctuation . The major components of thermal properties are:
I. Heat capacity
II. Thermal Expansion
III. Thermal conductivity
IV. Thermal stress
Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to change the temperature of the material

by one degree. The amount of heat is generally expressed in joules or
calories and the temperature in Celsius or Kelvin.
In order to calculate the heat capacity of materials with a given
dimension, Molar heat capacity or Specific heat capacity is used.
Heat Capacity Formula

Q = m c ΔT
Where,
● Q is the heat capacity in J
● m is the mass in g
● c is the specific heat in J.K-1
● ΔT is the temperature change in °K
The molar heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the
temperature of one mole of a substance by one degree; its units in the SI
system are J/mol · K.

Cₘ = molar heat capacity of substance

C= Heat capacity

n= no. of moles
Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 kelvin
(SI unit is J kg−1 K−1).
Thermal Expansion

When heat is passed through a material, its shape changes. Generally, a

material expands when heated. This property of a material is called
thermal expansion. There can be a change in the area, volume, and shape
of the material.
For example, railway tracks often expand and as a result, get misshapen
due to extreme heat.
Effect of thermal expansion on a railway track
Linear expansion is the change in length due to heat.

Where,
L0 = original length,
L = expanded length,
α = length expansion coefficient,
ΔT = temperature difference,
ΔL = change in length
Volume expansion is the change in volume due to temperature.

Where,
V0 = original volume,
V = expanded volume,
αv = volume expansion coefficient,
ΔT = temperature difference,
ΔV = change in volume after expansion
Area expansion occurs is the change in area due to temperature change.

Where,
A = original area,
ΔA = change in the area,
αA = area expansion coefficient,
ΔT = temperature difference,
A0 = expanded area.
Mercury Thermometer

Thermal expansion is the basic principle that a thermometer works on.

The mercury in the reservoir at the bottom of the thermometer is immersed
in a hot or cold object. On doing so, the mercury in the thermometer
contracts and expands changing the level indicated on the thermometer.
The thermometers are always calibrated and after a few minutes, the level
of mercury inside becomes stable and unchanging. This new level with the
calibrated thermometer tells us the temperature of the object we are
measuring.
Thermal conductivity

It is the property of a material to conduct heat through itself. Materials with

high thermal conductivity will conduct more heat than the ones with low
conductivity.
For example, an iron rod will conduct more heat than normal window glass.
Where ,
● K is the thermal conductivity in W/m.K.
● Q is the amount of heat transferred through the material in Joules/second
or Watts.
● d is the distance between the two isothermal planes.
● A is the area of the surface in square meters.
● ΔT is the difference in temperature in Kelvin
Thermal stress

The stress experienced by a body due to either thermal expansion or

contraction is called thermal stress. It can be potentially destructive in
nature as it can make the material explode.
For example, cracks can be seen on roads where the heat is extreme. The
crack is a result of thermal stress.
Consider a thermal conducting rod, on heating, the rod expands. The change in
length will be directly proportional to the amount of heat supplied and the
coefficient of thermal expansion. Thus, we can mathematically write Thermal
stress as:
𝛿T=LɑΔT
Where,
L is the length in m
ΔT is the change in temperature
Ɑ is the coefficient of thermal expansion
 Applications of Thermal Stress
Thermostat
A thermostat is the most commonly known application of Thermal stress. As the word implies
“Thermo” means temperature and “stat” means static, Thermostat is a device used to
regulate/maintain a constant temperature. They are widely used in the construction of various
electronic devices, ranging from air conditioners to the iron box.

Iron box: Bimetallic strips

The thermostat used in an iron box contains “bimetallic strip”. As the very name suggests,
bimetallic strips mean, “a metallic strip made up of two metals of the different coefficient of
thermal expansion bonded together”. Thus on supplying the same amount of heat two metals
expand at a different rate.
At room temperature, the contact points continue to be in physical contact
with bimetallic strips. However, on heating, the moment temperature crosses
the threshold limit. The bimetallic strip starts bending. Bending will be
higher towards the metal strip with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion
(𝛼). As a result, the physical connection to the contact point is ceased. The
circuit opens and there will be no further flow of electricity/current.
The circuit remains open unless and until the bimetallic strip cools down and
attains its original shape. Once the strip acquires original shape, the circuit
closed, and the current flows. The same cycle will be repeated until the
power supply is turned off.
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