Thermal Conductivity of Liquid Tin and Indium

The present paper reports new measurements of the thermal conductivity of liquid tin and indium. The measurements have been performed at atmospheric pressure in a range of temperatures from 450 to 750 K using a new experimental method based on the principle of the transient hot wire technique. The particular version of the technique employed for molten metals has been shown to have an accuracy in the measurement of the thermal conductivity of molten metals of ±2%. Ultimately, it is intended that the technique operate in a wide range of temperatures, from ambient up to 1200 K, and work is in progress to increase the working temperature and to extend the range of measurements. The results are compared with experimental data reported in the literature by other authors and with predictions of the Wiedemann and Franz law.