UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL

MEHB321 – HEAT TRANSFER & APPLIED THERMO LAB

SEMESTER 1 2018/2019
Experiment 3: Thermal Conductivity of Insulating Materials

SECTION : 04
GROUP :A
GROUP MEMBER :
1) LEONG KEN NETH (ME099388)
2) MOHAMMAD IQBAL BIN MOHD RAMLAN (ME0100044)
3) AHMAD FADHLI BIN ABDUL MALEK (ME0100043)
4) AHMAD IMRAN FAHMI BIN AHMAD KHALIL (ME099426)
5) MUHAMMAD EIMAN MUAZZIN BIN ZALIZAN (ME099407)

1
 Table of Content

NO. TITLE PAGE

1. Introduction 3

2. Objective 4

3. Theory 4-5

4. Rig Description 6

5. Procedure 7
*Safety and Precaution
6. Results and Analysis 8 - 12
*Sample calculation
*Graph

7. Discussion 13

8. Conclusion 14

2
Introduction
In this experiment, we going to investigate the thermal conductivity of insulating materials
which are Mica, Calcium Carbonate and Kaolin. Thermal conductivity is the material property
that describes ability to conduct heat. Thermal conductivity can be defined as the quantity of heat
transmitted through a unit thickness of a material in a direction normal to a surface of unit area.
Insulating material is a material that prevent the transmission of heat.
Mica is a mineral name given to a group of minerals that are physically and chemically similar.
They are all silicate minerals, known as sheet silicates because they form in distinct layers.
Micas are fairly light and relatively soft and the sheets and flakes of mica are flexible. Mica is
also heat resistant and does not conduct electricity.
Kaolin also known as China clay, is nearly white in color. It is distinguished from other
industrial clays based on its fine particle size and pure coloring. Its ability to disperse in water
make it an ideal pigment. Kaolin is derived from the mineral Kaolinite which comes from the
Earth's crust. It is an aluminum silicate represented as Al2O3-2SiO2-2H2O. The primary
constituent in kaolin is the mineral kaolinite, a hydrous aluminum silicate formed by the
decomposition of minerals such as feldspar. Kaolin has a variety of other uses in products
including cable insulation, specialty films and fertilizers, glass fiber, white cement and refractory
insulation bricks.
Calcium carbonate, or CaCO3, comprises more than 4% of the earth’s crust and is found
throughout the world.  Its most common natural forms are chalk, limestone, and marble,
produced by the sedimentation of the shells of small fossilized snails, shellfish, and coral over
millions of years.  Although all three forms are identical in chemical terms, they differ in many
other respects, including purity, whiteness, thickness and homogeneity. 

3
Objectives
1. To investigate the thermal conductivity of Mica, calcium carbonate powder and
Kaolin as an insulating material
2. To observe the temperature gradient within the test module
3. To compare experimental results with the actual material thermo-physical
properties for Mica, calcium carbonate powder and Kaolin

Theory
Thermal conductivity is one of the important thermo-physical properties and its understanding is
required for analyzing conduction heat transfer problems. Physical meaning of thermal
conductivity is how efficient the heat can pass through the given material. Hence, the
determination of thermal conductivity is of considerable engineering significance. There are a lot
of methods to determine the thermal conductivity suitable for finding out thermal conductivity of
materials of the powered form.

Fourier’s Law
The law of heat conduction or better known as Fourier’s law states that the heat conduction is
proportional to rate of change of temperature with respect to distance multiply by a negative
thermal conductivity constant. Heat is always transfer from a high to low temperature region,
hence justifying the negative sign in the equation. The equation below represents the Fourier’s
equation mention above.

dT
q x =−kA
dx

A - Area perpendicular to the direction of the heat flow

k - Thermal conductivity of the material

In most cases, the thermal conductivity can be assumed to be constant for a specific material.
However, this is not entirely true because the thermal conductivity of a material is affected by
both pressure and temperature. The importance of Fourier’s law can be outlined whereby most of
the heat conduction calculations are based on it.

4
Newton’s Law of Cooling
Cooling is one of the natural occurrences that occur in our daily lives due to the differences in
temperature gradient though out the various objects. After some considerate observation, Newton
states that the rate of change of temperature with respect to time is proportional to the net
temperature difference of the surrounding temperature and the initial temperature of the object.

dT
=−k (T −T 0 )
dt
k - Constant
T - Temperature of the object at time T(t)
T0 - Initial temperature of the object
The equation above can be solved by taking the integral on both sides and the equation is
simplified as below:

−kt
T i =T s +(T 0 −T s )e
By solving this equation in order to find the constant k, it would allow us to determine the
instantaneous temperature of the object just by having the initial temperature of the object, the
surroundings temperature and the time.

5
Rig Description

G I
H
C
A

F B

LEGEND

A - Digital power meter

B - Heater power controller
C - Digital temperature meter for heater
D - Digital temperature meter for thermocouple
E - Mains switch
F - Thermocouple points
G - Mica test module
H - Magnesium Oxide test module
I - Kaolin test module
J - Cold water inlet

6
Procedure
1. The water inlet manifold was connected at the front of the unit to a cold waters
supply.
2. The water outlet manifold was connected at the rear of the unit to a drain.
3. The cold waters supply was opened to allow water to circulate through the water
jackets.
4. The mains power on the control panel was switched on.
5. The readings to were compared to ensure that all the readings are uniform. The
error was noted down when the readings are not equal.
6. The heater was switched on for all module. The heater power was set to 50 W by
adjusting the heater power regulator and the digital power meter was observed.
7. The temperature inside the test module were allowed to achieved steady-state. The
temperature inside the test module for all 6 points for each module was recorded.
8. The heater was switched off and the modules was leave to cool down until
temperature drop is slow.
9. The steps 6 to 8 was repeated for heater power of 75 W and 100 W.
10. The heater was switched off.
11. The results were tabulated in the table.
12. The temperature profile graph (temperature vs. point) for the 3 sets of readings was
plotted.
13. The thermal conductivity of Mica was calculated based on the obtained results.

Safety and precaution

1) When in operation, ensure that the heater is not run continuously for durations exceeding 10
minutes for temperatures exceeding 200°C.
2) Ensure the control box is kept dry always.
3) Ensure that the heater is always switched off whenever the unit is not in use.
4) Do not touch the test module when conducting the experiment.
5) Ensure no water source is nearby the control box and test bench.
6) Ensure that the heater is always switched off whenever the unit is not in use.
Results and Analysis
7
 Test Material: Mica
P (W) 50 75 100

T1 (oC) 148.9 165.1 169.6

T2 (oC) 137.6 143.7 146.9

T3 (oC) 91.6 88.8 88.8

T4 (oC) 54.2 54.3 54.3

T5 (oC) 37.5 37.8 37.8

T6 (oC) 30.4 30.5 30.5

k (W/m.K) 0.4124 0.5446 0.7027

Table 1: Results for Mica

Test Material: Calcium Carbonate

P (W) 50 75 100

T1 (oC) 131.8 136.6 138.9

T2 (oC) 94.8 92.3 92.3

T3 (oC) 61.9 62 62

T4 (oC) 59.2 59.1 59.1

T5 (oC) 44.5 44.6 44.6

T6 (oC) 35.5 35.7 35.7

k (W/m.K) 0.5075 0.7265 0.9471

Table 2: Results for Calcium Carbonate

8
 Test Material: Kaolin
P (W) 50 75 100

T1 (oC) 135.1 144.7 148.4

T2 (oC) 130.2 132.6 134.5

T3 (oC) 71.2 71.6 71.6

T4 (oC) 46.9 47.7 47.8

T5 (oC) 37.3 37.6 37.6

T6 (oC) 34.1 34.2 34.2

k (W/m.K) 0.4839 0.6634 0.8559

Table 3: Results for Kaolin

Sample Calculation
ΔT
a . Q̇ =
R total
 Where, ΔT =¿−Ti
ln(r 2/r 1)
b . R total=
2 πLk

In this case, Q = P
ln(r 2/r 1) ̇ ΔT
Substitute R total= into Q = ,
2 πLk R total
¿−Ti
P=
ln(r 2/r 1)
2 πLk

Hence,

P (ln (r 2/r 1))

k=
2 πL(¿−Ti)

1) For Mica (P = 50 W)
Given: L = 0.235m, R1 = 0.0111m, R2 = 0.047m

9
 0.047

k=
((
(50 ) ln
0111 ))
2 π ( 0.235 ) (148.9−30.4 )

= 0.4124 W/m.K

2) For Calcium Carbonate (P = 50 W)

Given: L = 0.235m, R1 = 0.0111m, R2 = 0.047m
0.047

k=
((
( 50 ) ln
0111 ))
2 π ( 0.235 ) (131.8−35.5 )

= 0.5075 W/m.K

3) For Kaolin (P = 50 W)
Given: L = 0.235m, R1 = 0.0111m, R2 = 0.047m
0.047

k=
((
( 50 ) ln
0111 ))
2 π ( 0.235 ) (135.1−34.1 )

= 0.4839 W/m.K

10
 Temperature against point for Mica
180

160

140

120
Temperature, oC

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Power, W

50 75 100

Graph 1: Temperature against point for Mica

Temperature against point for Calcium Carbonate

160

140

120
Temperature, oC

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Power, W

50 75 100

Graph 2: Temperature against point for Calcium Carbonate

11
 Temperateur against point for Kaolin
160

140

120
Temperature, oC

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Power, W

50 75 100

Graph 3: Temperature against point for Kaolin

12
Discussion
Thermal conductivity is a material property that describes ability to conduct heat. Thermal
conductivity can be defined as the quantity of heat transmitted through a unit thickness of a
material. From the result obtained, the outer and inner surface temperature in Mica is the highest
while the calcium carbonate. From the calculation we obtained to get the thermal conductivity,
we know that the calcium carbonate has the highest thermal conductivity of 0.9471 W/m.K while
Mica has the lowest thermal conductivity of 0.7027 W/m.K.
From graph 1, we can observe that the higher the power, the higher the temperature. The
temperature for power of 100W at the maximum point before it start to decreases until it become
stabilize and reached the room temperature. The temperature decreases slowly at first then it
started to decreases more when it at point 2 until it become stabilize.
From graph 2, the temperature is the highest when conduct with power of 100W. The
temperature decreases linearly from point 1 until point 3 and start to decreases slowly at point 3
onward until it temperature become stabilize.
From graph 3, when using power of 100W it has the highest temperature. In this case the
temperature decreases much slower as compare to the Mica specimen data. When it reached
point 2 the temperature started to decreases more faster until it reached stabilize.

13
Conclusion
In conclusion, we manage to identify thermal conductivity for three different type of material
used which are Mica, Calcium Carbonate and Kaolin as an insulating material. From the result,
we known that the Mica has the lowest thermal conductivity followed by Kaolin and the highest
thermal conductivity was the Calcium Carbonate. Mica has the higher outer temperature as it
able to absorb heat faster than the others. While the Calcium carbonate has the lowest
temperature for the outer surface as it thermal conductivity is the highest. This mean that the
lower the thermal conductivity, the higher the temperature able to absorb. Hence, the objectives
of this experiment have been achieved.

14