Determination of Thermal Conductivity of Mn-Al Powder Compacts using An Inverse Heat Transfer Procedure

Abstract

The effective thermal conductivities of various MnAl powder compact compositions were measured using an Inverse Heat Transfer Procedure, and extensive validation work was also carried out. Specially fabricated cylindrical compact specimens were used equipped with two thermocouples at strategic locations. The porosity of these specimens was also measured.The estimated effective thermal conductivities of various MnAl compacts were in the range of 5.5 to 10.5 W m −1 °C −1 , which are much lower than that of Al (237 W m −1 °C −1 ), and close to that of Mn (7.8 W m −1 °C −1 ). The effective thermal conductivities of MnAl powder com pacts decreased with an increase in the compact's Mn composition and porosity. Within the examined tempera ture range of 250 to 600 °C, the effect of temperature on the effective thermal conductivity was minimal. A purely theoretically derived prediction of MnAl compact thermal conductivity is substantially higher than the estimates of using the IHTP.