Designation: C1114 06 (Reapproved 2013)

Standard Test Method for

Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
the Thin-Heater Apparatus1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1114; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope this test method, differences in the measurements of less than

2 % may be considered insignificant, and the requirements
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the steady-
fulfilled.
state thermal transmission properties of flat-slab specimens of
thermal insulation using a thin heater of uniform power density 1.5 The specimens shall meet one of the following
having low lateral heat flow. A thin heater with low lateral requirements, in addition to those of 1.4.
thermal conductance can reduce unwanted lateral heat flow and 1.5.1 If homogeneous materials as defined in Terminology
avoid the need for active-edge guarding. C168 are tested, then the thermal resistivity and thermal
conductivity can be determined by this test method.
1.2 This primary test method of thermal-transmission mea-
1.5.2 If materials which are layered or otherwise thermally
surement describes a principle, rather than a particular appa-
inhomogeneous are tested, thermal resistance and thermal
ratus. The principle involves determination of the thermal flux
conductance can be determined by this test method.
across a specimen of known thickness and the temperatures of
the hot and cold faces of the specimen. 1.6 Two versions of thin-heater apparatus using the same
principle of the standard are described in Annex A1 and Annex
1.3 Considerable latitude is given to the designer of the A2. They are similar in concept but differ in size and
apparatus in this test method; since a variety of designs is construction, and hence warrant separate descriptions for each
possible, a procedure for qualifying an apparatus is given in design. This test method in no way limits the size of the
5.3. thin-heater element. One of the units described uses a thin
1.4 The specimens must meet the following conditions if metal foil, while the other uses a metal screen as the heat
thermal resistance or thermal conductance of the specimen is to source. The smaller, foil apparatus is designed to make rapid
be determined by this test method2: measurements of heat transmission through specimens as thin
1.4.1 The portion of the specimen over the isothermal area as 0.5 cm and as thick as 2 cm; however, an apparatus using a
of the heater must accurately represent the whole specimen. foil heater could be designed to measure much thicker
1.4.2 The remainder of the specimen should not distort the materials, if desired. The larger, screen apparatus is designed to
heat flow in that part of the specimen defined in 1.4.1. measure specimens with thicknesses between 3 and 15 cm,
where the exact limits depend on the thermal resistance of the
1.4.3 The specimen shall be thermally homogeneous such
specimens. Both apparatuses use thermocouples for measuring
that the thermal conductivity is not a function of the position
temperature, but other temperature-sensing systems can be
within the sample, but rather may be a function of direction,
used.
time, and temperature. The specimen shall be free of holes, of
high-density volumes, and of thermal bridges between the test 1.7 This test method covers the theory and principles of the
surfaces or the specimen edges. measurement technique. It does not provide details of construc-
1.4.4 Test Method C177 describes tests that can help ascer- tion other than those required to illustrate two devices which
tain whether conditions of 1.4 are satisfied. For the purposes of meet the prescribed requirements. Detailed information is
available in References (1-23)3 and the Adjunct.
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.30 on Thermal standard.
Measurement.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2013. Published January 2014. Originally
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
approved 1989. Last previous edition approved 2006 as C1114 6. DOI: 10.1520/ safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
C1114-06R13.
2
Further discussion on the definition of these limitations may be found in Tye,
3
R. P., What Property Do We Measure?, Heat Transmission Measurements in The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Thermal Insulations, ASTM STP 544, ASTM, 1974, pp 512. this test method.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 C1114 06 (2013)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- dimensional, longitudinal flow of heat perpendicular to the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- heater is obtained through the specimen. Because the foil or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. screen heater is very thin, the need for a gap between the inner
and outer heater regions to act respectively as hot-plate and
2. Referenced Documents guard, is unnecessary.
2.1 ASTM Standards:4
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation 5. Significance and Use
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure- 5.1 Factors that may influence the thermal-transmission
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of properties of a specimen of material are described in Practice
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus C1045 and the Precision and Bias section of Test Method
C518 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission C177.
Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus 5.2 Because of the required test conditions prescribed by
C687 Practice for Determination of Thermal Resistance of this test method, it shall be recognized that the thermal
Loose-Fill Building Insulation properties obtained will not necessarily apply without modifi-
C1043 Practice for Guarded-Hot-Plate Design Using Circu- cation to all conditions of service. As an example, this test
lar Line-Heat Sources method normally provides that the thermal properties shall be
C1044 Practice for Using a Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus or obtained on specimens that do not contain moisture, although
Thin-Heater Apparatus in the Single-Sided Mode in service such conditions may not be realized. Even more
C1045 Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Prop- basic is the dependence of the thermal properties on variables
erties Under Steady-State Conditions such as mean temperature and temperature difference.
C1058 Practice for Selecting Temperatures for Evaluating
and Reporting Thermal Properties of Thermal Insulation 5.3 When a new or modified design of apparatus is evolved,
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in tests shall be made on at least two sets of differing material of
ASTM Test Methods known long-term thermal stability. Tests shall be made for each
2.2 ASTM Adjuncts: material at a minimum of two different mean temperatures
Descriptions of Two Types of Thin-Heater Apparatus5 within the operating range of each. Any differences in results
should be carefully studied to determine the cause and then be
3. Terminology removed by appropriate action. Only after a successful verifi-
3.1 Applicable terms and symbols are defined in Terminol- cation study on materials having known thermal properties
ogy C168. Any terms or symbols not included in C168 but used traceable to a recognized national standards laboratory shall
in this test method will be defined within the text. test results obtained with this apparatus be considered to
conform with this test method. Periodic checks of apparatus
4. Summary of Test Method performance are recommended.
4.1 Principles: 5.4 The thermal transmission properties of many materials
4.1.1 A thin-foil or metal-screen heating apparatus operates depend upon the prior thermal history. Care must be exercised
in accordance with the basic concept of a unidimensional, when testing such specimens at a number of conditions so that
longitudinal heat-flow technique. The heater is made suffi- tests are performed in a sequence that limits such effects on the
ciently thin so that lateral heat flow along the plane of the results.
heater is insignificant, and so that there is no need for isolation 5.5 Typical uses for the thin-heater apparatus include the
and separate temperature control of a guard region, except following:
possibly the control of ambient temperature. 5.5.1 Product development and quality control applications.
4.1.2 The low mass of the thin heater apparatus minimizes 5.5.2 Measurement of thermal conductivity at desired mean
drift error and allows the apparatus to reach steady-state in a temperatures.
significantly shorter time than a typical Test Method C177 5.5.3 Thermal properties of specimens that are moist or
apparatus. close to melting point or other critical temperature (see Note
4.1.3 It should be noted that all quantities in this procedure 1).
are determined by direct measurement. There are no arbitrary
NOTE 1Apparatus of the type covered by this test method apply to the
factors requiring calibration by comparison with a standard: study of thermal properties of specimens containing moisture because of
thus, the apparatus yields results on an absolute basis. the use of small temperature differences and the low thermal capacity of
4.1.4 A properly designed heater will be sufficiently thin to the heat source.
reduce lateral heat flow from the central zone to an acceptably 5.5.4 Determination of thermal properties of relatively high
small level. The result is that within a central zone, one- R value insulation samples with large apparatuses. In the case
of the metal-screen heater apparatus, samples with thicknesses
4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or up to 15 cm can be measured.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on 6. Apparatus and Specimen Preparation
the ASTM website.
5
Available from ASTM International Headquarters. Order Adjunct No. 6.1 The simplicity of this test procedure may cause very
ADJC1114. important factors to be overlooked which may affect the

2
 C1114 06 (2013)
results. To ensure accuracy of measurements, the user of this edge heat losses to below about 0.5 %, the recommended
apparatus should know how to measure temperature and power maximum thickness of the specimen is one third the minimum
as they relate to testing of thermal resistance. It is also linear dimension of the metered region, if different from the
necessary that the specimens be properly selected and prepared thin-heater area. For more specific quantitative information on
for evaluation. this limitation see Refs. (24), (25), (26), and (27).
6.2 Normally, test specimens are selected in pairs from the 7.2.1.1 The specimen may be sized to extend beyond the
sample lot. The specimens selected should be uniform and metered area by a distance sufficient to ensure one-dimensional
homogeneous to ensure that test apparatus symmetry is main- heat flow within the metered area.
tained. Appropriate thermal modeling may allow tests of 7.2.2 Homogeneity There are two potential problems in
nonuniform specimens, such as small specimens positioned determining the heat flux through highly inhomogeneous
within larger ones, or composite or layered specimens. specimens. One is related to the interpretation and application
6.3 Test specimens shall be prepared and conditioned in of the resulting data; it is discussed in Practice C1045. The
accordance with the appropriate material specification. The other is connected with the degradation in performance of the
conditioning of the test specimens shall be reported. apparatus. If the specimen itself is highly inhomogeneous, that
6.3.1 The surfaces of the specimens shall be prepared to is, the heat flux density varies appreciably over the metered
ensure uniform thermal contact with the heater and area, several errors can be significantly increased. The tem-
temperature-controlled plates. Further details may be found in perature distribution of the thin heater can deviate appreciably
the Specimen Preparation section of Test Method C177. from isothermal conditions which, in turn, can cause large
6.3.2 When evaluating compressible specimens, provide uncertainties in the average temperature difference across the
means to maintain a definite, known test thickness. One specimen. The increased temperature variations of the thin
method is to insert rigid equal-length spacers made of low heater can also lead to increased edge heat losses. The
thermal-conductivity material in the corners of specimens. An importance of measuring temperatures of the thin heater or
alternative method involves using mechanical arrangements to specimen surface at numerous points is greatly increased under
establish fixed and known spacing and parallelism between the such conditions.
heater and cold plates.
7.3 Specimen Preparation and InstallationThe specimen
6.3.3 The maximum allowable distance between the heater
shall be conditioned in accordance with the appropriate mate-
and cold plates (specimen thickness) is limited by the specimen
rial specification. The following guidelines for specimen
thermal resistance, the ambient temperature, and the ratio of
preparation apply when the material specification is incomplete
measurement area to apparatus size. The isothermal area
or unavailable. In general, the surfaces of the specimen should
established in the center of the heater is influenced by these
factors. The isothermal area must be large enough to establish be prepared to ensure uniform thermal contact with the thin
the equilibrium heat flux (W/m2) through a representative area heater and the cooling plates.
of the specimen. References are presented which will help 7.3.1 Compressible SpecimensAlso, for compressible
guide users in determining the maximum thickness that can be specimens the surfaces of the uncompressed specimens may be
used for specimens in their apparatus. comparatively rough so long as these undulations essentially
vanish under test compression. Under more extreme
6.4 The distance between the heater and the cold plates must
conditions, it may be necessary to smooth the specimen
be adjusted to confine the specimens with pressure sufficient to
surfaces to achieve better specimen contact. If the apparent
ensure good thermal contact between the specimens and the
thermal conductivity of the contact void is greater than that of
bounding surfaces. For rigid specimens, a pressure of 2.5 kPa
the specimen, the measured R value will be smaller than the R
is recommended. For compressible specimens, see 6.3.2.
value that would be obtained if the voids were absent. This may
often be the case at higher temperatures where radiant heat
7. Procedure
transfer predominates in the void. For the measurement of
7.1 The testing procedure includes the following steps: conductivity of compressible specimens, the temperature sen-
7.1.1 Specimen selection, sors are often mounted directly in the contacting surfaces.
7.1.2 Specimen preparation and installation, and Spacers need to be used for the measurement of compressible
7.1.3 Test execution. specimens (see 6.3.2).
7.2 Specimen SelectionOnly those specimen selection fac- 7.3.2 Rigid and High-Conductance SpecimensThe mea-
tors important to the performance of the apparatus are consid- surement of conductivity of rigid specimens or high-
ered here. Those factors dictated by the objectives related to conductance specimens requires more careful surface prepara-
obtaining derived thermal properties are described in Practice tion. First, the surfaces should be made flat and parallel to the
C1045 and material specifications. For the two-sided mode of same degree as the contacting surfaces. If the specimen has a
operation, the two specimens should be selected to be as thermal resistance that is sufficiently high compared to the
similar in thickness and thermal characteristics as possible. specimen-to-surface interfacial resistance, temperature sensors
7.2.1 SizeThe maximum specimen thickness that can be mounted in the surfaces may be adequate. However, if the
measured to a given accuracy is dependent on several interfacial resistance is too high, the use of other techniques
parameters, including the size of the apparatus, thermal resis- that ensure good thermal contact and accurate temperature
tance of the specimen, and the accuracy desired. To maintain measurement will be necessary.

3
 C1114 06 (2013)
7.3.2.1 In some cases it is necessary to mount the tempera- at steady-state within its test capabilities. Serious errors may
ture sensors directly on the specimen surfaces to avoid the result if sufficient time for thermal equilibrium is not allowed.
effects of high interfacial thermal resistance that create heat For further details see Refs. (28), (29), and (30).
flux nonuniformities. In any event, the user should always try NOTE 2The thermal time constant of the system is the time required
to minimize the ratio of contact resistance to specimen resis- to come to within 1/e (37 %) of the fixed value after a step thermal
tance and to strive for a constant ratio over the entire surface. disturbance of the system. This time is strongly dependent on the mode of
7.3.2.2 Another potential solution (that must be used with operation. The two modes of operation generally used are: (1) constant
caution) is to mount a compressible thin sheet (for example, a power to the thin-heater, and (2) constant temperature control of the
thin-heater. The thermal time constant for the latter mode is usually
soft rubber) between the surfaces and specimen to improve the considerably shorter because it is not dependent on the mass of the
uniformity of the thermal contact. The temperature sensors thin-heater. The thermal time constant in the constant power mode is the
should be mounted on the side of the sheet facing the time required to come to within 37 % of the final temperature. The thermal
specimen. If the thermal conductance of the thin sheet is time constant in the constant temperature mode is the time required to
come to within 37 % of the final power. The thermal time constant of a
known, temperature corrections can be applied to the measured system can be approximated from a knowledge of the thermal diffusivities
temperatures to obtain the specimen surface temperatures. of the components of the system, but it is more readily determined
Clearly, the thermal resistance of the thin sheets should be experimentally.
small compared to the specimen thermal resistance, otherwise 7.4.2 Final Checks Upon completion of the thermal
the temperature correction uncertainty will cause excessive measurements, recheck the specimen thickness before removal,
errors in the specimen surface temperatures. then remove the specimen and examine the system
7.3.3 Anisotropic SpecimensThe measurement of conduc- components, such as temperature sensor mounting, for proper
tivity of highly anisotropic specimens may result in signifi- placement and operation. The specimen thickness spacers
cantly larger errors than for isotropic specimens. For example, should be checked to ensure accuracy. Any significant changes
layered specimens that have a high ratio of lateral to axial in the physical appearance or characteristics of the specimen
conductance require special attention. For such specimens, it is should be reported. The mass of the specimen should be
recommended that a low-conductance gap be created in the redetermined to detect changes during the test procedure. If the
specimen. Specimens whose axes of symmetry do not coincide specimen is rigid, its thickness should be checked for an
with flat-slab geometry are not recommended for measurement irreversible change during the test.
by this test method because the results will be ambiguous due
to increased measurement errors. 8. Calculation
7.3.4 Loose-Fill SpecimensThe determination of thermal 8.1 The primary data required for this test method include
properties for loose-fill specimens requires special handling, electrical power, surface temperatures, area, and thickness. Of
conditioning, and measurement techniques. The user is di- these, only thickness is generally a directly measured quantity.
rected to Practice C687 for details on specimen preparation and The others are either calculated from other more fundamental
measurement of loose-fill. measurements or are converted by an electrical device. The
7.4 Test Execution: manner in which these variables can be obtained is discussed as
7.4.1 Thermal Steady-StateThe time required to achieve follows:
thermal steady-state of the system varies considerably with the 8.2 Heat FlowThe heat flow to be reported is that which
characteristics of the apparatus design, the specimen to be passes through the specimen. For the single-sided mode of
measured, and the test conditions. Generally, however, since operation this is equal to the power generated by the metered
this test method is applicable to low-conductance specimens, region heater corrected for any back heat flow that occurs in the
the time to thermal equilibrium is on the order of hours. Times back flow specimen. This is discussed in Practice C1044. For
to thermal equilibrium generally increase with thicker the double-sided mode of operation, only one half the power
specimens, specimens with low thermal diffusivity, redistribu- generated by the heater flows through each specimen. The
tion of moisture within test specimen, and increasing mass of power, Q, is frequently determined from emf, E, and current, I,
the thin-heater. After achievement of the desired steady-state, measurement, and is calculated as follows:
three successive data acquisition runs shall be completed. Q 5 EI (1)
These runs shall be conducted at intervals of no more than 30
min. Longer times (days) may be necessary for thermally 8.3 Metered Area The metered area, A, is the total
massive systems. It is recommended that the lengths of the thin-heater area or some defined portion of that area.
intervals be no less than the thermal time constant of the 8.4 Temperature Again, the basic measurement here is
system (see Note 2). This combination of three runs shall be voltage (for a thermocouple) or voltage and current for a
considered a valid test if each datum obtained for each resistive temperature sensor. These data are normally con-
measured variable differs from the mean by no more than the verted to temperatures through a formula based on a calibration
uncertainty of that variable as estimated to establish the values curve or interpolation of a table. In some instances, the formula
given in the report. If the data obtained change monotonically is packaged within an instrument that reads directly in tem-
with time, thermal steady-state has not been achieved; further perature. In any event, the user should note that the total error
runs shall be conducted until this steady drift is no longer contains components due to the measurement process and the
observed. Such a drift, even at low levels, may indicate that the calibration (including the error caused by the functional or
specimen characteristics are changing or that the system is not tabular interpolation of the calibration).

4
 C1114 06 (2013)
8.5 DensityThe specimen density is to be reported. The have been met with the exception of ... should be added with
equation for density, , is the following: a complete list of the exceptions included.
5 M/V (2) 9.3 Select evaluation temperatures using Practice C1058,6
and specifically report any exceptions.
where:
M = mass of the specimen (kg), and 10. Precision and Bias
V = volume that the specimen occupies between the plates
10.1 Precision of a Thin-Foil Type Apparatus:
under test conditions.
10.1.1 Based on the separate parameters of one apparatus
To minimize the error caused by specimen inhomogeneity it (see Annex A1) of this type, it is estimated that the maximum
is best to determine the density of the specimen within the error is 3 % and the most probable error is 2 % at 300 K when
metered volume. This requires cutting out the metered position T exceeds 1.1 K (2F).
of the specimen for the mass determination. The volume is 10.1.2 Data for cork-rubber and polystyrene were compared
determined from the metered area and the in-situ specimen to data on the same specimens obtained in an apparatus using
thickness (L). In the case of compressible specimens, the the Northrup technique (21). Fiberboard specimens were tested
surface spacing is used for specimen thickness. using both the thin-foil apparatus and a standard conductimeter
8.6 Thermal Transmission PropertiesThe properties in- (22). All results were consistent with the estimated errors (5,
cluded are thermal resistance, thermal conductance, apparent 9).
thermal conductivity, and thermal resistivity as defined by 10.1.3 Data on calcium silicate from 300 to 550 K with Ts
Terminology C168. These quantities shall be reported only in from 2 to 5 K were internally consistent to within 2 %. Two
accordance with the requirements and restrictions of Practice specimens tested in four different versions of this apparatus
C1045. In addition to reporting the systematic and random type yielded average results within 3 % of results obtained with
uncertainty of these properties, the range of applicable condi- Test Method C518 (20).
tions must be reported. These include mean temperature or 10.1.3.1 These four tests determinations gave 95 % repeat-
temperature range, specimen thickness, density, and surface ability limits (within laboratory) of 1.6 %, 6.5 %, 4.7 %, 2.9 %,
emittance. and 3.1 % at mean temperatures of 300, 370, 420, 480, and 530
8.6.1 Calculate the thermal conductance, C, for a given K, respectively. Since data are available from only one
specimen as follows: laboratory, it is not possible to give a reproducibility limit. The
above terms (repeatability limit and reproducibility limit) are
C 5 q/T (3) used as specified in Practice E177. The coefficients of variation
where: among test results may be obtained by dividing the above
q = rate of heat flux through the specimen per unit area, repeatability limit values by 2.8.
and Q/A, 10.1.4 At this time, data using NIST SRMs are not avail-
T = temperature difference Th Tc able.7
NOTE 3Thermal resistance, R, the reciprocal of thermal conductance, 10.2 Bias of Thin-Foil Type Apparatus:
is calculated for a given specimen as follows: 10.2.1 The bias of this test method using this type of
R 5 T/q (4) apparatus is undetermined at this time.
10.3 Precision of a Metal-Screen Type Apparatus:
8.6.2 Calculate the apparent thermal conductivity as fol-
10.3.1 A determinate error analysis for one apparatus (An-
lows:
nex A2) of this type shows a maximum measurement uncer-
Q L tainty of 1.7 % and a most-probable error of 1.2 % for a
5 3
2 TA
~ flat 2 slab geometry! (5)
specimen T of 5 K (17, 18).
where: 10.3.2 One apparatus of this type was used in a round robin
for Practice C687 in which the measurement capability of the
Q = rate of heat flow, W,
A = specimen area normal to heat flux direction, m2, eleven participating laboratories could be characterized by an
L = specimen thickness, m, imprecision of 3 % and a negligible bias of the mean based on
T = temperature difference, Th Tc. a fibrous-glass blanket reference sample.
NOTE 4Heat flux, Q/2A, in Eq 3 can be written as Q/ A with A defined 10.3.3 Four test determinations were made by one labora-
as the total heat transfer area (for double-sided operation this area is twice tory on SRM 1450b at a mean temperature of 297 K. The 95 %
the metering area). repeatability limit (within laboratory) was 1.7 %. Since data are
available from only one laboratory, it is not possible to give a
9. Report reproducibility limit. The above terms (repeatability limit and
9.1 The Report section in Test Method C177 applies to this reproducibility limit) are used as specified in Practice E177.
test method. The coefficient of variation among test results may be obtained

9.2 If results are to be reported as having been obtained by 6

Consult Test Methods C177, C518, and Practice C1045 for the correct
this test method, then all pertinent requirements prescribed by
application of this test method.
this test method should be met. Where such conditions are not 7
For information on Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), contact the National
met, the sentence All requirements of Test Method C1114 Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

5
 C1114 06 (2013)
by dividing the above limit value by 2.8. The practical results were within 0.6 and 0.9 % for SRM 1451 and SRM
interpretation of this precision statement is that repeat mea- 1450b, respectively (18), indicating that the bias is less than 1
surements by the one laboratory have a 95 % probability of %.
falling within 61.7 % of their mean value.
10.4 Bias of Metal-Screen Type Apparatus: 11. Keywords
10.4.1 Data were obtained on specific specimens of NIST 11.1 heat flow; thermal conductivity; thermal resistivity;
SRMs 1451 (16) and 1450b (15) using both this type of thermal transmission; thin-heater apparatus; unguarded hot
apparatus and the 1-m NIST Guarded Hot Plate C1043. The plate

ANNEXES

(Mandatory Information)

A1. FOIL-HEATER APPARATUS

A1.1 GeneralThe specific foil-heater apparatus described attaching heavy, metal buss bars. The folded-foil configuration
in this section illustrates a unit that meets the requirements of is sandwiched between two identical specimens of sample
this test method. material. The specimen thickness normally does not exceed
one tenth of the least dimension of the heater, excluding the
A1.2 Concept: thickness of the heater. Two heavy, isothermal cooling plates
A1.2.1 The thin-foil heater in this apparatus consists of a enclose the entire assembly.
uniform strip of metal foil folded in half with a thin intervening
A1.2.2 The thin-foil heater is connected to a constant-
layer of electrical insulation, as shown in Fig. A1.1. The ends
current power supply using two buss bars. Assuming the
of the foil are established as electrical equipotentials by
temperatures of the heat-sink blocks are fixed, a steady-state is
eventually reached such that the rate of heat generation in the
heater equals the total rate of heat flow through the two
specimens.
A1.2.3 Under steady-state conditions, the relevant thermal
property of the central portions of the specimens is determined
by measuring the temperature difference produced by the
heater in relation to the specimen thickness and heat flow per
unit area.
A1.2.4 To make a practical apparatus in accordance with
these principles, a procedure must be established for determin-
ing q from knowledge of the parameters of the heater and
power supply. There must be means for measuring the tem-
perature difference, T, using appropriate temperature sensors,
and the length of the heat flow path, L , which, in this
apparatus, is usually the specimen thickness.
A1.3 Assembly:
A1.3.1 The specific apparatus described here incorporates
differential thermocouple systems for measuring the tempera-
ture difference between the two opposite faces of each of the
two specimens. The differential thermocouples are cut from a
strip of edge-welded copper-constantan foil, as shown in Fig.
A1.2(a). Each specimen has its own differential couple, as
shown in Fig. A1.2(b), with platelets on opposite sides of a
given sample being connected by the continuous strip of
constantan foil extending around the edge of the specimen.
Copper leads attached to the foil provide connections to the
external readout instrument.
A1.3.2 As explained in A1.3.3, the two inner platelets are
FIG. A1.1 Schematic of the Thin-Foil Heater laminated inside the heater. (Because of the symmetry of the

6
 C1114 06 (2013)

FIG. A1.3 Schematic of One Thin-Foil Heater Apparatus

NOTE 1Copper foil is shaded area; constantan foil is unshaded area.

(a) Layout for cutting Differential Thermocouple
(b) Relative Position of Platelets in Apparatus same end of the silicone-glass as the leads from the thermo-
FIG. A1.2 Details of Differential Thermocouple Configuration couple platelets. A25 by 102-mm mounting strip made of
0.6-mm thick silicone-glass laminate is fastened to the buss
bars with binding posts and bolts and nuts. The thermocouple
apparatus, the two heater foils are at the same temperature leads are extended through a slot in this mounting strip. The
when the steady-state condition is reached. Therefore, the two outer thermocouple platelets are positioned so that their
space between these foils is isothermal, at least near the central centers are about 64 mm from the folded end of the heater; the
area of the heater, and the thermocouple platelets inside the leads are then bonded to the side of the mounting strip. Their
heater foils should be at the same temperature as the foils and centers are aligned with the centers of the pair of platelets
the inside surfaces of the specimens.) inside the heater. The two copper leads extending from the
A1.3.3 The apparatus is shown in Fig. A1.3. The heater is between-heater platelets are folded together and clamped under
fabricated from a 102 by 305-cm piece of 0.03-mm thick No. a nylon screw tapped into the mounting strip. A thermocouple-
321 stainless steel foil. The foil is uniform to within 62 % (see quality copper wire, also joined in this connection, extends to
A1.3.3.1). Two 102 by 152-mm sheets of 0.25-mm thick the readout instrument. The copper leads from the outer
silicone-glass laminate are laminated together, enclosing two platelets are similarly connected to external wires using two
of the thermocouple platelets as described in A1.3.3.1 These other screws. Power leads are fastened to the binding posts.
platelets and their leads are electrically insulated from each These are bound together with the thermocouple wires to form
other with 0.05-mm polyimide film. The centers of the platelets a cable approximately 910 mm in length. All bonding is done
are located about 64 cm from the fold in the heater, and with pressure-sensitive silicone adhesive.
midway between the heater edges. A1.3.5 Experience has shown that reinforcing the outer
A1.3.3.1 The foil thickness must be uniform (5) to produce thermocouples with films may be necessary. The films are cut
a uniform heat flux. Precision metal foils whose thickness does large enough to cover platelets, leads, and a portion of the side
not vary from the mean value by more than 0.005 mm are of the mounting strip. These films are mounted with adhesive
available from several commercial suppliers. to the outer surface of the foils so they do not interfere with the
A1.3.4 The four leads from the two platelets extend from thermal contact between the thermocouple platelets and the
between the two silicone-glass sheets near the middle of one of sample. Note that the outer thermocouples, including the film
the 102-mm edges. The heater is then folded over and bonded covers, can be bent to accommodate variations in specimen
to the silicone-glass assembly such that the buss bars are at the thickness.

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 C1114 06 (2013)
A1.3.6 After the specimens are placed between the heater A1.3.7 For the assembly described, the fractional uncer-
and the other thermocouple platelets, the assembly is clamped tainty for the range from 300 to 550 K is 3 %, while the most
between two 102 by 151-mm blocks of 25-mm thick alumi- probable uncertainty is 2 % (20).
num. The clamping is done with spring clamps, or by an
overall wrapping of tape. Note that the polyimide film on the
outer platelets prevents electrical shorting by the aluminum
heat-sink blocks.

A2. METAL-SCREEN HEATER APPARATUS

A2.1 GeneralThe specific metal-screen heater apparatus

described in this section illustrates a unit that meets the
requirements of this test method.
A2.2 Concept:
A2.2.1 The apparatus is designed to measure the heat
transmission characteristics of large, flat specimens of thermal
insulation. It uses an electrically powered Type V nickel-
chromium alloy screen as a heat source. This screen is large
enough and has sufficiently low lateral thermal conductance to
produce one-dimensional heat flow in its central region without
active edge guarding. Control of the ambient temperature to the
mean test temperature enables edge guarding to extend the
measurement range. The screen is instrumented with eleven
36-gauge Type E (Chromel P and Constantan8) thermocouples
and is positioned horizontally between a pair of insulation
specimens that are bounded by temperature-controlled copper
plates. Metal-screen heaters have been made using alloys other
than Nichrome.
A2.2.2 A constant-direct-current power supply heats the
screen. Assuming that the copper plates are maintained at a
constant temperature, a steady state is eventually reached, such
that the rate of heat generation in the screen equals the total rate
of heat flow through the two specimens.
A2.2.3 For information on the thermal property of central
portions of the specimens, see A1.2.3.
A2.2.4 For relevant parameters, see A1.2.4.
A2.3 Assembly:
A2.3.1 The assembled apparatus, without perimeter FIG. A2.1 Assembled Metal-Screen Heater Apparatus Without
insulation, is shown in Fig. A2.1. This figure shows a 1.1 by Perimeter Insulation
1.6-m table with four threaded corner posts for holding the top
and bottom copper cold plates and the screen frame in their
respective horizontal positions. This illustration shows the two independent fluid-circulating units that control the plate
table top, the lower cold-plate insulation consisting of two temperature are located below the table. With independent
insulating boards and a compressed, fiberglass batt, the lower temperature controls, measurements can be made with heat
cold plate, the lower sample, the screen-heater frame, the upper flow up, heat flow down, or heat flow from the screen to each
sample, the upper cold-plate, and the upper cold-plate insula- plate at the same temperature, similar to the apparatuses used
tion consisting of a compressed, fiberglass batt and two for Test Method C177 and Practice C1044.
insulating boards. The upper and lower cold-plate insulation A2.3.2 Fig. A2.2 is a schematic drawing of the temperature-
(0.11 m thick) provides an R-value of about 4.7 Km2/W. The control plumbing for a cold plate. The solid bounding surfaces
are fabricated from copper plate 12-mm thick, 1.14-m wide,
and 1.75-m long. Four holes are provided for the positioning
8
Widely available from commercial suppliers. posts; 10-mm diameter copper tubing is soldered to the

8
 C1114 06 (2013)

Component Illustration
Braun Water Bath B
Controller C
Booster Pump P
Balancing Valves V
Thermocouple X

FIG. A2.2 Schematic of Temperature Control and Plumbing Sys-

tems for Each Cold Plate

external surface of the copper plate for the circulating fluid.

The copper tubing provides two counter-flow paths for water
from the temperature-controlled water bath, with flow boosted
by an external pump and balanced with two rotameters. The
plate temperature profile and inlet/outlet temperatures are
obtained using 15 Type E thermocouples, 0.12 mm in diameter,
that are held to the plate surface with thermally conducting FIG. A2.3 Schematic Drawing of Instrumented Nichrome Metal-
epoxy. The surfaces facing the sample are machined to a Screen Heater in Support Frame
flatness of 60.13 mm, and six table-support screws are
adjusted to provide a flatness to this level. These surfaces are baths. All thermal electromotive forces are measured with a
painted black to establish a total hemispherical emittance potentiometer having a 1.6-v range and an accuracy of
greater than 0.8 (7, 17). 6(0.001 % V + 2 V), or a data-acquisition scanner (with an
uncertainty of 61 V in 30 000 V). The electrical power to
A2.3.3 Fig. A2.3 is a schematic drawing of the instrumented the screen heater is provided by a DC supply capable of
Nichrome metal-screen heater in its support frame. The screen providing 10 V at 100 A. A precision 0.01-ohm resistor
is made from wire 0.25 mm in diameter, and woven as a 40 by in-series with the power leads is to measure current. The
40-per-in. mesh with a thickness of 0.64 mm, width of 0.914 m, voltage taps with a spacing of 0.610 m on the screen edge
and length of 1.52 m. This screen is held in a frame with 14 define the metered area of 0.610 by 0.914 m.
electrically insulated tension springs with adjusting nuts. Dis-
tributed current-input leads join copper bars brazed to each end A2.3.5 The sample thickness is fixed by eight low-
of the heater. Four voltage taps are welded to the edge of the conductivity tubular spacers 30-mm diameter positioned out-
heater and are centered on the screen with separations of 0.610 side the 0.610-m voltage-tap spacing. Four such spacers are
and 0.914 m. Eleven Type E thermocouples 0.12 mm in positioned on each side of the screen, and spacer tube lengths
diameter are attached to the screen with thermally conducting from 40 to 90 6 0.010 mm can be used.
epoxy on the 0 and 180 axis with 0.3-m spacing. The A2.3.6 For the assembly described, the fractional uncer-
positions of spacers that maintain the sample thickness are also tainty in thermal conductivity for the range from 300 to 330 K
shown in Fig. A2.3. is 1.7 %, while the most probable uncertainty is 1.2 % (18).
A2.3.4 Forty-one Type E thermocouples, as used in this A2.3.7 This apparatus has also been found to be useful for
apparatus, join copper wires in a pair of ice-water reference transient tests (31).

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 C1114 06 (2013)
REFERENCES

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(7) McElroy, D. L., and Kollie, T. G., The Total Hemispherical Emit- ratus for Measuring Thermal Conductivity of Powdered Insulations,
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