"Specific thermal conductivity" is a materials property used to compare the heat-transfer ability of different "materials" (i.e., an intensive property). "Absolute thermal conductivity", in contrast, is a component property used to compare the heat-transfer ability of different "components" (i.e., an extensive property). Components, as opposed to materials, take into account size and shape, including basic properties such as thickness and area, instead of just material type. In this way, thermal-transfer ability of components of the same physical dimensions, but made of different materials, may be compared and contrasted, or components of the same material, but with different physical dimensions, may be compared and contrasted.