05.06 Material Properties

Categories: Thermal Properties

Introduction
This page contains thermal data of building materials for heat and moisture transfer calculations.

Definitions:

Design thermal value (definition from ISO 10456:1997): Value of a thermal property of a building material or a product under specific external and internal conditions which can be considered as typical of the performance of that material or product when incorporated in a building component.

Declared thermal values (defenition from ISO 10456:1997): Expected value of a thermal property of a building material or product:

- assessed from measured data converted to reference conditions of temperature and humidity;
- given for a stated fraction and confidence level;
- corresponding to a reasonable expected service life time under normal conditions.

Design thermal values for materials in general in building applications
The table below gives design thermal data (values) in tabular form for heat and moisture transfer calculations, for thermally homogeneous materials and products commonly used in building construction. The values are derived from prEN ISO 10077-2:2000 and prEN 12524:1998.
 

Material group or application	Density	Design thermal conductivity	Specific heat capacity under constant pressure	Moisture resistance factor
	r  [kg.m-3]	l [W.m-1K-1]	cp [J.kg-1K-1]	m
Frame
Copper	8900	380	380
Aluminium (Si Alloys)	2800	160	880
Brass	8400	120	380
Steel	7800	50	450
Stainless steel	7900	17	460
PVC (polyvinylchloride), rigid	1390	0.17	900	50000
Hardwood	700	0.18	1600	200
Softwood	500	0.13	1600	200
Softwood	700	0.17	1600	200
Fibreglass (PE-resin)	1900	0.40
Glass
Soda lime	2500	1	750
Acrylic	1050	0.20	1500	10000
PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate)	1180	0.18	1500	50000
Polycarbonates	1200	0.20	1200	5000
Thermal break
Polyamid (nylon)	1150	0.25	1600	50000
Polyamid 66 with 25% glassfibre	1450	0.30	1600	50000
Polyethylene HD, High density	980	0.50	1800	1000000
Polyethylene LD, LD density	920	0.33	2200	1000000
Polypropylene, solid	910	0.22	1800	10000
Polypropylene with 25% of glassfibre	1200	0.25	1800	10000
PU (polyurethane), resin	1200	0.25	1800	6000
PVC (polyvinylchloride), rigid	1390	0.17	900	50000
Weather-stripping
Neoprene (polychloroprene PCP)	1240	0.23	2140	10000
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)	1150	0.25	1000	6000
Silicone, pure	1200	0.35	1000	5000
PVC, flexible (40% softener)	1200	0.14	1000	100000
Mohair (polyester) sweep		0.14
Foam rubber	60-80	0.05
Sealant and glass edge material
PU (polyurethane), rigid	1200	0.25	1800	6000
PU (polyurethane), foam	70	0.05	1500	10
Butyl (isobutene) solid/hot melt	1200	0.24	1400	200000
Polysulfide	1700	0.40	1000	10000
Silicone, pure	1200	0.35	1000	5000
Polyisobutylene	930	0.20	1100	10000
Polyester resin	1400	0.19	1200	10000
Silica gel (desiccant)	720	0.13	1000
Molecular sieve (desiccant)	650-750	0.10
Silicone foam, low density	750	0.12	1000	10000
Silicone foam, medium density	820	0.17	1000	10000
Stone
Basalt	2700-3000	3.5	1000	10000
Gneiss	2400-2700	3.5	1000	10000
Granite	2500-2700	2.8	1000	10000
Marble	2800	3.5	1000	10000
Limestone, semi-hard	2000	1.4	1000	50
Sandstone (silica)	2600	2.3	1000	40
Other
Concrete medium density	1800	1.15	1000	100
Concrete reinforced (with 1% of steel)	2300	2.3	1000	130
Gypsum plasterboard	900	0.25	1000	10
Gypsum plastering	1000	0.40	1000	10

Insulation and masonry materials
Design thermal values can be derived from declared thermal values by applying the convertion procedures in ISO 10456. This is normally the case for thermal insulation materials. The method of determination of the declared thermal value for an insulation material is specified in product standards. Design thermal values for masonry materials are usually derived from the thermal conductivity in the dry stat using ISO 10456.

NOTE: The thermal conductivity in the dry state for masonry materials are given in prEN 1745, Masonry and masonry products - Methods for determining design thermal values.

Insulation materials and masonry materials are excluded from the table above but can be taken from prEN 12524. The latter containes tables with material properties and the moisture content of materials and products in equilibrium with air at 23C and relative humidities of 50% and 80%, and moisture conversion coefficients taken from ISO 10456:1997. It also gives the moisture resistance factor and specific heat capacity for these materials.
 

Water vapour resisance of thin layers
The water vapour resistance of a product is expressed as the thickness of a motionless air layer with the same vapour resistance as the product. The thickness of the products is not normally measured and they can be regarded as infinitely thin products with a water vapour resistance. The table quotes nominal thickness values as an aid to the indentification of the product. The table below is taken from prEN 12524: 1998.