The thermal conductivity of vitreous silica, with a note on crystalline quartz

Abstract

Vitreous silica is a material which finds extended application in many branches of scientific work, and considerable attention has been given to some of its physical constants. Little work has, however, been done on the thermal conductivity. Eucken and Barratt appear to be the only workers who have attacked the problem, their results being by no means in agreement, as is shown in Table I. This paper gives an account of a determination of the thermal conductivity of clear transparent vitreous silica over a temperature range of approximately 60° to 240°C. The value obtained for the conductivity at 100°C. is 0.00338, and for the mean change of conductivity per °C. 0.0000018 5 . Thus the figures do not agree with the results of either Eucken or Barratt, except that the latter’s value for the conductivity increment per °C. is of the same order as that found in the present work.