Back to Glossary 7. Thermal capacitance is thus important in transients. The larger the thermal capacitance the less a given pulse of power will increase temperatures in the device. Back to Glossary 8. This is a bulk property of the material and is independent of interfacial resistance e.g. a block of copper would have a very high thermal conductivity but when placed against a heat source with a rough surface could provide a high thermal resistance to ambient.
Thermal conductivity represents ability to conduct heat once it has entered the material.
Back to Glossary 9. Impedance A parameter characterizing heat flow in a system, e.g. from the heat source to ambient. It is calculated by dividing the temperature difference across the interface by the heat flux or power density i.e. degrees centigrade temperature difference divided by watts per inch squared. Please Read Our Copyright and Disclaimer Notice.