Thermal Conductivity Converter
BTU/hr·ft·°F
Definition: An imperial unit for thermal conductivity, representing British Thermal Units per hour per foot per degree Fahrenheit.
History/origin: Developed during the industrial revolution in the UK and USA. It remains a key legacy unit in the American construction and HVAC industries.
Current use: Predominantly used in the United States for building insulation ratings, boiler specifications, and heat exchanger design.
Watt/meter-kelvin (W/m·K)
Definition: The SI unit for thermal conductivity. It represents the rate of heat flow (Watts) through a material of unit thickness (meter) per unit of temperature difference (Kelvin).
History/origin: Established as part of the SI system to create a direct link between power (Watts), distance, and temperature change in thermodynamic calculations.
Current use: The absolute standard in physics, global engineering, and material science to define how well a material conducts heat.
BTU/hr·ft·°F to Watt/meter-kelvin (W/m·K) Conversion Table
| BTU/hr·ft·°F [btu_fh] | Watt/meter-kelvin (W/m·K) [w_mk] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 btu_fh | 0.01730735 w_mk |
| 0.1 btu_fh | 0.1730735 w_mk |
| 1 btu_fh | 1.730735 w_mk |
| 2 btu_fh | 3.46147 w_mk |
| 3 btu_fh | 5.192205 w_mk |
| 5 btu_fh | 8.653675 w_mk |
| 10 btu_fh | 17.30735 w_mk |
| 20 btu_fh | 34.6147 w_mk |
| 50 btu_fh | 86.53675 w_mk |
| 100 btu_fh | 173.0735 w_mk |
| 1000 btu_fh | 1730.735 w_mk |
How to Convert BTU/hr·ft·°F to Watt/meter-kelvin (W/m·K)
1 btu_fh = 1.730735 w_mk
1 w_mk = 0.57778921 btu_fh
Example: convert 15 btu_fh to w_mk:
15 btu_fh = 15 × 1.730735 w_mk = 25.961025 w_mk
Did You Know?
- In the United States, thermal conductivity is often used to calculate "R-value" for home insulation. A lower thermal conductivity means a higher R-value, keeping your home warmer in winter!
- Did you know? Diamond has the highest thermal conductivity of any naturally occurring bulk material, about 5 times higher than copper! This is why diamonds always feel cold to the touch.