When defining a material's conductivity, we usually consider its conductivity of heat and conductivity of electricity separately. However, I realize that materials like metal conduct both heat and electricity well. In contrast, materials like wood and glass conduct both heat and electricity poorly. Therefore can we conclude that if a material is bad at conducting one kind of "flow of energy", then it will also be bad at conducting another kind of "flow of energy"? Thanks a lot.
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$\begingroup$ If a material is a good conductor of electricity , then the moving electrons will surely transfer kinetic energy throughout the material and vibrate other atoms ... Conductivity of heat follows conductivity of electricity... $\endgroup$– Nehal SameeCommented Apr 7, 2018 at 8:06
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1$\begingroup$ See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiedemann–Franz_law $\endgroup$– J.G.Commented Apr 7, 2018 at 8:19
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4 Answers
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Diamond is a good thermal conductor but a poor electrical conductor.
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The ratio of thermal conductivity to electric conductivity is a constant at a given temperature. This relation is mathematically defined by the Wiedmann-Franz law.
There are exceptions to this. The human body is a bad conductor of heat but is an excellent conductor of electrical.
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1$\begingroup$ Diamond is an example of a good thermal conductor but a poor electrical conductor. $\endgroup$– badjohnCommented Apr 7, 2018 at 9:28
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$\begingroup$ Yes, I check the wiki and the "violation" section of the Wiedmann-Franz law may explain why both human body and diamond are the exceptions. It is probably because both of these two are more complex structures so they transfer the heat and electricity in different ways? $\endgroup$– DannyCommented Apr 7, 2018 at 9:46
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$\begingroup$ The Wiedmann-Franz law is for metals. It also depends on the temperature and the process of heat conduction so there are materials which are relatively poor conductors at room temperature but then become relatively good conductors at low temperatures. $\endgroup$– FarcherCommented Apr 7, 2018 at 9:48
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As an Engineer I can assure you that many electronic devices work just because there are materials that are good thermal conductors but excellent insulators as well.
Electronic device and equipment, especially those designed for high power, must get rid of the excess heat produced by electrical power dissipation. Most of the time because of joule effect, but there are other dissipative phenomena like the reorientation of magnetic domains in a ferro-/ferri-magnetic materials (e.g., transformers core).
Not being able to get rid of that heat will cause the device to fail because of its temperature rising above its safe maximum.
The use of electrically-insulating thermal conductors allow to improve thermal conduction inside a device/piece of equipment without causing short circuits between parts placed close together.
A classic example, used even at the dawn of electronics, is mica (Wikipedia article). Excerpts (emphasis mine):
Sheet mica is used principally in the electronic and electrical industries. Its usefulness in these applications is derived from its unique electrical and thermal properties and its mechanical properties, which allow it to be cut, punched, stamped, and machined to close tolerances. Specifically, mica is unusual in that it is a good electrical insulator at the same time as being a good thermal conductor.
answered Apr 7, 2018 at 13:49
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Water is an excellent thermal conductor but a poor electrical conductor.
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$\begingroup$ This has been flagged as "not an answer". To prevent deletion, consider making it quantitative and include a reference. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 7, 2018 at 15:38