Thermal Test of Bulk Materials
tens of μm to tens of cm thick
Product Detail
ACS Material's photothermal testing service measures the thermal conductivity of bulk materials, from tens of micrometers to tens of centimeters thick. A modulated laser heats the surface and an infrared detector reads its thermal radiation. The service needs one specimen, more than 2 mm across, and runs at room temperature. Typical lead time is 1 week.
How the measurement works
We first coat the surface with a thin gold film. A laser beam, switched on and off at a set frequency, then heats a small spot on it. The surface temperature follows the heating with a delay, and an infrared detector reads it through the thermal radiation of the surface. The delay, read as a phase shift, is measured over a range of modulation frequencies. At low frequencies heat spreads wide and deep before each cycle ends; at high frequencies it stays near the surface. Fitting a heat-conduction model to the phase curve gives the thermal conductivity. Heating and reading happen on the same face. The laser flash guide covers the usual bulk method and its limits.
Is this the right service?
| Your sample | Service |
|---|---|
| Free-standing wire, fiber or film, micrometer thick | Micrometer-thick service |
| Free-standing wire, fiber or film, thinner than a micrometer | Sub-micrometer service |
| A coating on its substrate, sub-micrometer to millimeter thick | Coatings service |
| A 2D layer, tens of nanometers or thinner | 2D materials service |
| A bulk piece, tens of micrometers to tens of centimeters thick | This service |
Specimens outside these limits are worth describing before you ship them. All five services are compared on the thermal testing services page.
Check your sample
Enter your specimen and what you need. The checker compares it with the numbers listed for each service, marks what it cannot compare, and writes an inquiry you can send as it is.
Sending specimens
FAQ
What size and thickness can the specimen be?
The listed range is tens of micrometers to tens of centimeters thick and more than 2 mm across, one specimen. A thin layer on a substrate fits the coatings service.
Which temperature is the test run at?
Room temperature. If you need another temperature, describe it with the sample checker before ordering.
Does the material need to conduct electricity?
No. The laser heats the surface and the detector reads its thermal radiation, so nothing is wired to the specimen.
How do I order?
Choose Room Temperature in the Type menu at the top of this page and add the test to the cart. Then check out, or click GET A QUOTE in the cart to request a quote. For a specimen outside the listed requirements, send the details first with the sample checker.
How is this different from laser flash?
Laser flash heats one face of a thin disc with a single pulse and reads the temperature on the opposite face, and the disc usually has to be machined to the instrument's size. Here the heating and the reading are both on the same face. The laser flash guide covers the flash method and its limits.
Related guides
Disclaimer: ACS Material LLC believes that the information on our website is accurate and represents the best and most current information available to us. ACS Material makes no representations or warranties either express or implied, regarding the suitability of the material for any purpose or the accuracy of the information listed here. Accordingly, ACS Material will not be responsible for damages resulting from use of or reliance upon this information.