Overview
EN ISO 22007-1:2024 - "Plastics - Determination of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity - Part 1: General principles" (ISO 22007-1:2024) provides a comprehensive overview of methods used to measure the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of polymeric materials. Published by CEN/ISO in 2024, this third edition updates guidance on transient and steady‑state techniques, clarifies terminology (including the addition of contact resistance), and replaces the term “laser flash” with light flash. The document explains the principles behind measurement approaches and points to the technique‑specific standards that define the actual test procedures.
Key Topics
- Purpose: background and guidance for measuring thermal transport properties of plastics and other polymeric materials.
- Fundamental properties and terms: thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal effusivity, heat pulse, heat flux, and contact resistance.
- Measurement principles:
- Transient methods (contact and non‑contact): hot‑wire, line‑source, transient plane source, temperature wave analysis, and light flash (formerly laser flash).
- Steady‑state methods: guarded hot‑plate, guarded heat flow meter and heat flow meter methods.
- Comparative techniques for low thermal conductivities using temperature‑modulation.
- Test planning and interpretation: selection of appropriate technique depending on material type, form and thickness; influence of convection, radiation and contact resistance; modeling of transient responses for property extraction.
- Reporting and uncertainty: recommended contents for test reports and discussion of sources of measurement uncertainty.
Applications
EN ISO 22007-1 is relevant wherever accurate thermal property data for plastics are required:
- Materials R&D: selecting and characterizing polymer formulations and composites for thermal performance.
- Product design and thermal management: electronics housings, insulation, heat‑dissipating components and packaging.
- Quality control and certification: establishing batch consistency and compliance with thermal performance requirements.
- Simulation and thermal modelling: providing validated inputs (λ, α, specific heat) for finite element and thermal network analyses.
- Independent testing laboratories and accreditation bodies performing plastics testing.
Users typically include polymer scientists, test laboratories, OEM engineers, thermal analysts, regulatory and standards professionals.
Related standards
- ISO 472 (Plastics - Vocabulary) - referenced for terms and definitions.
- Technique‑specific standards cited within EN ISO 22007-1 (e.g., standards for hot‑wire, light flash, guarded hot‑plate methods) - consult the ISO 22007 series and national standards bodies for the exact test method documents.
Keywords: ISO 22007-1, EN ISO 22007-1:2024, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, plastics testing, light flash method, guarded hot‑plate, polymer thermal properties.
