Technique for measuring high-temperature thermal conductivity of solids by the use of a heat pipe.

A suggested technique for accurately measuring thermal conductivity of solids in the temperature range 800-1500 C is presented. The procedure employs the sample to be tested in series combination with a high-temperature heat pipe and a heat-transfer device, which has a variable thermal conductance. By changing the thermal conductance of the heat-transfer unit and measuring the change in heat-pipe power input to maintain a constant heat-pipe temperature, one can accurately measure the heat flux through the sample in conjunction with the temperature drop across it. This steady-state technique has some inherent advantages over methods currently employed to measure thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures.