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What is the difference between poor conductor of heat and insulator of heat?
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What is the difference between poor conductor of heat and insulator of heat?
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The Scientist
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What is the difference between poor conductor of heat and insulator of heat?
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28/01/2011 14:27:00 »
Do they mean the same thing? Or are there any difference? Please share you answers! Thanks!
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The Scientist
CZARCAR
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What is the difference between poor conductor of heat and insulator of heat?
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Reply #1 on:
28/01/2011 15:08:59 »
same diff?
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CliffordK
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What is the difference between poor conductor of heat and insulator of heat?
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Reply #2 on:
28/01/2011 18:11:04 »
The concepts are similar, but slightly different. In general you could use either one to rank materials, although insulation might be a combination of conduction + convection.
Steel might be considered a poor heat conductor (as well as a poor electrical conductor). However, it would not make a good heat or electrical insulator.
That is only because steel is a poor heat/electrical conductor relative to other materials such as aluminium and copper.
Most thermal insulators use either air (or other gas), or a vacuum trapped in some kind of a system to limit convection.
In fact, Fiberglass is only a moderate insulator. Fiberglass + air is a good insulator. Rock would be a relatively poor insulator. Rock Wool is a good insulator.
And the photo above is silica (or Sodium Silicate) which might not be considered as a good insulator, except when in a very fine matrix (aerogel).
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Last Edit: 28/01/2011 18:15:45 by CliffordK
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