Laser Flash Analysis: A Fast and Accurate Method for Thermophysical Properties

Laser Flash Analysis is one of the most established methods for determining Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity, Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity and Specific Heat Capacity (cp)Heat capacity is a material-specific physical quantity, determined by the amount of heat supplied to specimen, divided by the resulting temperature increase. The specific heat capacity is related to a unit mass of the specimen.specific heat capacity. It is fast, accurate and non-destructive, making it highly valuable for material development, quality control and application-driven testing.

In this session, Alberto Gomez explains the basic principles of the LFA method and shows what makes it so powerful for a wide range of materials. Practical examples from metals, ceramics, polymers and low-viscosity liquids will help participants understand how LFA measurements work and what is needed for reliable results.

You will learn:

• How the LFA method works
• Why Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity matters
• How Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity is determined
• What influences accurate LFA measurements
• How LFA is used for different material classes