Device and Method for Measuring the Thermal Conductivity of a Sample

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This patent describes a device and method for accurately measuring the thermal conductivity of a material sample. The invention features a sample holder with multiple retaining parts made from materials of differing thermal conductivities, strategically connecting a heat source and a heat sink through the sample. Temperature sensors placed at various points allow precise measurement of temperature gradients to infer thermal conductivity, including in different spatial directions. The configuration allows measurement of isotropic and anisotropic materials, including those with high thermal conductivity, with improved accuracy and flexibility.

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• Quality control and material certification in manufacturing industries (e.g., electronics, automotive, energy storage)
• Development and testing of new materials in research labs, especially for thermal management applications
• Characterization of advanced composites, anisotropic materials, and layered structures (e.g., batteries, fiber-reinforced polymers)
• Optimization of materials for heat dissipation in electronics, power devices, or building materials
• Measurement of thermal conductivity in thin films, foils, or fragile samples where conventional prep is difficult

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables precise measurement of thermal conductivity in various spatial directions (including parallel and perpendicular to sample surfaces)
• Accommodates samples of different shapes, sizes, and thermal conductivities, including materials with very high or low values
• Reduces measurement errors due to flexible, configurable sample holders with well-controlled thermal paths
• Simplifies preparation and reduces risk of sample damage, especially for anisotropic or fragile materials
• Improves accuracy for highly conductive materials and allows for simultaneous or multi-directional measurement
• Adaptable to a wide range of laboratory and industrial environments for broad material characterization

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring the thermal conductivity of a sample (2), comprising: a heat source (10); a heat sink (11); a sample retainer (12) for fastening the sample, having a plurality of retaining parts (120A, 120B; 120B') designed to retain the sample, at least one retaining part (120A, 120B) being designed to thermally conductively connect the heat source (10) to the sample (2) and at least one further retaining part (120A, 120B) being designed to thermally conductively connect the sample (2) to the heat sink (11); and a temperature sensor arrangement (13), which is designed to determine temperature measurement values at a plurality of points between the heat source (10) and the heat sink (11) in order to determine the thermal conductivity of the sample (2). According to the invention, at least one first retaining part (120A) of the sample retainer (12) comprises a first material and at least one second retaining part (120B; 120B') of the sample retainer comprises a second material, the first material having a different thermal conductivity than the second material. The invention further relates to a method for measuring the thermal conductivity of a sample.