Heat storage coefficient-an important thermophysical parameter and its experimental determination

Besides the three thermophysical coefficients needed to describe the thermal status of a substance, the heat storage coefficient is an additional useful parameter to describe its thermal behaviour. Although its value is related to the three constants, in many cases it behaves as an independent characteristic of the sample. The present paper deals with the importance of the heat storage coefficient in heat transfer and describes a technique for its direct experimental determination using a plane heat source fabricated in the laboratory. The heat storage coefficient of metal powders and metallic oxides at varying temperatures is determined by the suggested technique. The results obtained are in good agreement with the estimated values determined from known data of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the materials.