1.

3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Thermal Properties of Materials
Thermal properties are relevant to:
 Heat loss from buildings.
 The effect of sunlight on buildings.
 Heat generation during cement hydration.
 Thermal cracking
1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Temperature
• Temperature is the property which can generally be
measured when studying thermal properties. The
common units are degrees centigrade (oC). The name
celsius is sometimes used in place of centigrade and has
the same meaning.
• For many calculations degrees Kelvin (oK) must be
used. The temperature in oK is obtained from the
temperature in oC by adding 273.12. This figure is used
because 0 oK, i.e. -273.12 oC is the temperature at
which the vibration of atoms (which is responsible for
the temperature that we observe) stops. It is actually
impossible to finally reach it however good a cooling
system is used.
• 32oF = 0oC 212oF = 100oC
1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Energy
• Energy is measured in Joules. 1 Joule is defined as the
energy required to push against a force of 1 Newton
over a distance of 1 metre.
energy
• Power is the rate of doing work =
time
1 Watt of power = 1 Joule/second

• When we buy energy in the form of electricity the units

on the meter are kilowatt hours. One kilowatt hour is
60 x 60 x 1000 = 3.6 million Joules. i.e. the Joule is a
very small unit.
1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Specific Heat
The Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) of a material
is the number of Joules required to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of the material through 1
oC. Thus:

ENERGY
Temperature Change = T 2 - T1 =
Cp  MASS

Cp has the units of Joules/(kg oC)

1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Thermal The Thermal Conductivity (k) is
Conductivity the measure of the ability of a
Temperature
material to transmit heat by
conduction. The heat (Q) is
Wall measured in Watts. k is defined
from the equation:
kA(Ta - Tb)
Q=
d
Where Ta and Tb are the
temperatures either side of an
Distance
element of material with
Real building thickness d and cross sectional
Calculated area A. k has the units of
Watts/(m oC)
Insulation in wall
 How to calculate heat loss
through a cavity wall
100 65 100
The air is equivalent to a
very thick skin of
brickwork with thickness k1 k1
65mm  k1/k2 k2

k1  A(T1  T2 )
Q
0.2  0.065  k1/ k 2
Insulation in roof
Insulation in
brick wall
1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Other Thermal Properties
Thermal capacity = Specific heat  Mass

Thermal diffusivity = Thermal Conductivity

Density  Specific Heat

Thermal inertia = Thermal conductivity 

Density  Specific heat
 Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion
This is defined as the proportionate length
change per oC of temperature change. If the
coefficient is x the length change will be:
L = x  L  T
where L is the length and T is the change in
temperature.
Thermal expansion
 Heat Generation
Heat may be generated in a number of different
ways.

Burning fuel generates a lot of heat. For example

burning 1kg of high grade petrol will give off 45
million Joules.

When cement hydrates it gives off heat. Hydrating

1kg of cement gives off about half a million Joules.
 Radiant Heat
In normal circumstances a structure will lose or gain
heat substantially through convection, i.e. the heat is
lost to the air next to it which then circulates to bring
in cooler air. If this process does not take place (e.g.
in a vacuum) and the object is black and non-
reflecting the heat loss is:

Q =  AT 4

where :
Q is the heat loss in Watts (Joules per second)
 is Stefan's constant = 5.67  10-8 W m-2 oK-4
A is the area in m2
T is the temperature in oK
1.3 THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF MATERIALS
1.3.1 Relevance
1.3.2 Temperature
1.3.3 Energy
1.3.4 Specific heat
1.3.5 Thermal conductivity
1.3.6 Other thermal properties
1.3.7 Performance in fire
 Concrete
Loss of Strength in Fire
Low thermal conductivity of concrete protects steel and
concrete. Failure is by spalling (tensile failure) exposing
steel.
Concrete lost all strength by 850oC Steel by 550oC
Coefficients of thermal expansion similar so bond OK
Other
Colour Change of concrete on heating
CaO (quicklime) formed in concrete will react violently
with water.
 Steel
Flammability
Non-Flammable but often painted
Loss of Strength in Fire
High thermal conductivity leads to rapid failure.
(note that a high thermal capacity would delay
failure). Strength lost by 550oC. Cold worked
steel worse.
Other hazards
High thermal expansion will disrupt structure.
High thermal conductivity may ignite other
areas.
Fire damage to steel
Fire damage to steel (2)
 Plastics
Thermoplastics melt and then burn.
Thermosetting plastics char and then burn.
Great variations between types but typical
ignition at 400oC
Loss of Strength in Fire
Thermoplastics may melt by 100oC
Thermosets OK to about 300oC (varies)
Other hazards
Toxic fumes, Melts and drops.
 Asphalt
Flammability
Burns and volatiles will flash but far safer than
pure bitumen/tar.
Loss of Strength in Fire
Softens at low temperatures
Other hazards
Melted asphalt sticks to skin
Asphalt fire is spread by water
Fumes carcinogenic (but not as toxic as for
plastics)
 Glass
Loss of Strength in Fire
Sheet glass shatters due to differential thermal
expansion.
Design
Toughened/Double glazing no help for
resistance but hazard from toughened is less.
Wire glass, intumescent laminate can give
resistance.
Fibres often used for fire resistance (e.g. fire
blankets)
 Timber
Flammability
Depends on species.
Protected by charcoal (up to 500oC)
Loss of Strength in Fire
Little loss of strength due to heat. (drying
increases strength). Low thermal conductivity
protects.
Other hazards
Low expansion (unlike steel)
Possible fumes from preservatives.
 Masonry
Flammability
Non-Flammable
Loss of Strength in Fire
Minimal
May buckle due to heat on one side only
Other hazards
Stays hot for a long time