Definition: | at a point fixed in a medium with a temperature field, scalar quantity λ characterizing the ability of the medium to transmit heat through a surface element containing that point: φ = −λ grad T, where φ is the density of heat flow rate and T is thermodynamic temperature NOTE 1 In an anisotropic medium, thermal conductivity is a tensor quantity. NOTE 2 The coherent SI unit of thermal conductivity is watt per metre kelvin, W/(m·K).
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