Thermal conductivity the list of thermal conductivities. These should be considered approximate due to the uncertainties related to material definitions. High energy generation rates within electronics or turbines require the use of materials with high thermal conductivity such as copper "(see: Copper in heat exchangers)", aluminium, and silver. On the other hand, materials with low thermal conductance, such as polystyrene foam and fire brick, are used in building construction or in furnaces in an effort to slow the flow of heat, i.e. for insulation purposes. The reciprocal of thermal conductivity is "thermal resistivity", usually expressed in kelvin-meters per watt (K⋅m⋅W). For a
Thermal conductivity plate of thermal conductivity "k", area "A" and thickness "L", the conductance calculated is "kA"/"L", measured in W⋅K (equivalent to: W/°C). ASTM C168-15, however, defines thermal conductance as "time rate of steady state heat flow through a unit area of a material or construction induced by a unit temperature difference between the body surfaces" and defines the units as W/(m⋅K) (Btu/(h⋅ft⋅°F)) The thermal conductance of that particular construction is the inverse of the thermal resistance. Thermal conductivity and conductance are analogous to electrical conductivity (A⋅m⋅V) and electrical conductance (A⋅V). There is also a measure known as heat transfer coefficient: the