Thermal Conductivity of Metals

Abstract

As indicated in a previous paper, elementary classical considerations suggested a relation between thermal conductivity $k$, atomic heat $C$, density $\rho$, and absolute temperature $T$ of the form $\frac{k}{C\rho }=\frac{K}{T}+K^{\prime }$. This is now shown to be in agreement with recent theories on the metallic state. The first term on the right relates to conduction by the crystal lattice, the second term, $K^{\prime }$, refers to conduction by electrons. It is found experimentally that $K^{\prime }$ is the conductivity in the molten condition. The present paper shows these relations for lead, tin, and zinc. The data reported for lead are new. A modification of the experimental method previously used for zinc was required for the work on lead (a much poorer conductor) and is here explained.