• Ther al o du ti ity λ is the i tri si property of a aterial hi h relates
its ability to conduct heat. Heat transfer by conduction involves transfer of energy within a material without any motion of the material as a whole. Conduction takes place when a temperature gradient exists in a solid (or stationary fluid) medium. Conductive heat flow occurs in the direction of decreasing temperature because higher temperature equates to higher molecular energy or more molecular movement. Energy is transferred from the more energetic to the less energetic molecules when neighboring molecules collide. • Thermal conductivity is defined as the quantity of heat (Q) transmitted through a unit thickness (L) in a direction normal to a surface of unit area (A) due to a u it te perature gradie t ΔT) under steady state conditions and when the heat transfer is dependent only on the temperature gradient. In equation form this becomes the following: • Thermal Conductivity = heat × distance / (area × temperature gradient) λ = Q × L / (A × ΔT) Thermal conductivity is measured in watts per kelvin- eter W·K−1 · −1) Importance • Thermal conductivity of man made fibers is an important thermal property in regards to manufacturing, processing and applications. • In manufacturing, subsequent cooling or annealing may also be controlled by heat transport properties of polymer, which eventually give the molecular orientation and therefore physical properties of fiber. • One example is crystalline polymers, for which the structural and morphological features may be significantly changed with the speed of cooling. • Heating and cooling rates of fiber/fabric in various processing (heat setting, ironing etc) depend on this property. • Thermal comfort of garments in cold/summer seaso depe d o o stitue t fi ers’ o du ti ity. • There are lot of advance fiber composite materials are produced based on heat dissipation capacity of fibers. • MMF typically have intrinsic thermal conductivity much lower than those for metals or ceramic materials, and therefore are good thermal insulators. • Dependency of conductivity • Temperature, pressure, density of polymer, orientation of chain segments, crystal structures, degree of crystallinity, and many other factors may significantly affect thermal conductivity of polymers. • Generally, with increase in temperature, thermal conductivity for amorphous polymers increases gradually in the glassy region and decreases slowly or remains constant in the rubbery region. • For crystalline polymers, thermal conductivity decreases steadily with the increase in temperature below the melting point. At temperature above the melting point, it behaves in a similar way as amorphous polymers