Thermal Conductivity of Copper

k_{\mathrm{Cu}} = 401\ \text{W/(m}{\cdot}\text{K)}

Value	401 W/(m·K)
Status	Measured: ± 5 W/(m·K) (0.012 relative)
Source	CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics / ASM Handbook, Vol. 2
Categories	Material Properties Engineering & Trade thermodynamics

k_Cu in every thermal conductivity unit

watt per meter-kelvin	401 W/(m·K)
BTU per hour-foot-Fahrenheit	231.69352 BTU/(h·ft·°F)

Learning zone

In metals the same free electrons carry both heat and charge, so the best electrical conductors are the best thermal conductors — the Wiedemann-Franz law makes the ratio k/(σT) nearly universal. Silver leads at 429 W/(m·K), copper follows at 401, gold at 317, aluminium at 237. Copper wins on cost per unit of conductivity, which is why it is in every heat exchanger tube, cold plate and bus bar.

Alloying wrecks it. Brass (70/30) is about 120 W/(m·K), bronzes are lower, and cupronickel condenser tube is nearer 30 — a third of the alloying additions can cost three quarters of the conductivity, because solute atoms scatter electrons. Even oxygen content matters, which is why high-conductivity applications specify C10100 or C11000. Use 401 for clean copper near room temperature and derate for the actual alloy. Note too that in most real heat exchangers the tube wall is not the resistance that matters: the water-side and air-side films and any fouling layer dominate, so upgrading tube metal often changes the overall U by a percent or two.

Used by these solvers

Heat Conduction Rate

P = \tfrac{k A \Delta T}{d}