Thermal conductivity of magnesium oxide from absolute, steady-state measurements

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of polycrystalline magnesium oxide has been measured over the temperature range from 400 K to 1300 K using a modified guarded-hot-plate design. Three different thicknesses of specimens having 93 % of theoretical density were tested to verify the operation, accuracy, and reproducibility of our apparatus. The measured thermal conductivity ranges from 30 W · m^-1 · K^-1 down to 8 W · m^-1 · K^-1 and has an inverse-temperature functionality. The results agree well with literature values for this material.