Thermoelectric Cooling Element (=TE) as Thermal Conductivity Meter

Thermoelectric cooling elements (=TE) were applied to measure thermal conductivities (=λ) of some materials. By this method, the measuring process becomes very simple and fast compared with ordinary one and does not need the preparation of a large specimen. The principle of this method is as follows : the specimen (membraneous material) is inserted between the cold junction (must be as flat as possible) of a TE and the hot junction (must be as flat as possible) of the other TE. In the stationary state of this condition, the temperature difference between the cold and the hot junctions of each TE is determined by λs/d (s : are of cross section, d : thickness) of the specimen, and Seebeck counter electromotive force is proportional to the temperature difference. Therefore, the value of λ of the specimen can be obtained through the measurement of this counter electromotive force.