Thermal
Conductivity
Scanning

This high precision noncontact method using optical scanning was developped by Prof. Dr. Yuri Popov (Moscow State Geological Prospecting Academy) and is new in both Earth science and thermal physics. The theoretical model is based on scanning a sample surface with a focused, mobile and continuously operated heat source in combination with infrared temperature sensors.

Using a two-channel sensor in combination with advanced processing techniques allows the simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity as well.

The method is realized in the TCS apparatus, which is an semi-automatically operating Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity meter.

The results are:

• measurement of complete thermal properties of rock and material samples:
  thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity
• profiles of thermal properties along the samples
• inhomogeneity of thermal properties
• anisotropy: components of the thermal properties tensor for anisotropic solids