7 Best Metals for Conducting Heat

What metals are the best conductors of heat?

1. Silver
2. Gold
3. Copper
4. Aluminum
5. Brass
6. Tungsten
7. Zinc

Most of the metal products and appliances we use daily — such as our heaters and cookware, among other things — require a certain level of heat conductivity to work. Even more technical applications tend to use metal with such properties. Knowing the best metal conductors of heat is important if you’re about to embark on a project that needs to conduct, transfer, or carry heat well. If you’re in this position and are in the market for such metals, read on! 

Silver

Silver is one of the best metals for conducting heat, which comes from its unique crystal structure, one valence electron, as well as its reflective properties. However, silver is an expensive material to work with and is not the best choice for most commercial products. It is also quite soft, tarnishes easily, and is hard to shape. As such, silver is often found in specialized equipment and products, such as satellites, circuit boards, and batteries.

Gold

Gold is another great conductor of heat, and unlike silver, is easier to shape and rarely tarnishes. It can withstand high heat — if heated fast enough, it can turn hard rather than melt. Gold can resist corrosion and wear fairly well, too. However, it is too expensive to be practically used in common goods. So, you usually only see gold in small amounts in specialty electronics, medical, and aerospace equipment. 

Copper

Copper is commonly used as a heat conductor, as it absorbs heat quickly, yet can hold it for a long time. Besides this quality, copper is also a highly corrosion-resistant metal. It is also much more affordable than gold and silver, meaning it can be used in large amounts or for mass-produced products. Copper is often used to make cookware, automobile and computer parts, and components of heating systems. 

Aluminum

While not as strong as copper, aluminum is a great metal for conducting heat. And, unlike gold, silver, and even copper, it tends to be less expensive. Aluminum is one of the few metals that can be fully recycled over and over again without losing any of its chemical or mechanical properties. Thus, it’s a great and relatively inexpensive option for making commodity items such as cookware, wires, and heat sinks. Using aluminum in these products helps the appliance retain heat more efficiently without the danger of overheating.

Brass

Brass is one of the tougher metals on this list. Brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc, which makes it more durable and hardy than the two. It can easily withstand temperatures as high as 900 ℃. Because of its strong heat absorption, adding to its corrosion and friction resistance, brass is commonly used in applications that not only require heat conductivity, but also withstand high pressure and high use, such as pipes, valves, and electrical plugs and sockets. 

Tungsten

Tungsten is a metal that’s valued not only for its heat conductivity but also for its low vapor pressure. It’s the ideal material for appliances that are exposed to frequent heat and electricity. Tungsten is also chemically inert, which means that electrical currents can pass through this metal without becoming hampered or altered. This metal is commonly used in lightbulbs, electrodes, and cathode-ray tubes to help these tools carry electricity efficiently and protect the equipment from overheating. 

Zinc

Zinc, while being less conducive to heat than others on this list, can be an affordable alternative to more expensive metals. It also offers good durability and versatility. However, when using zinc, it’s important to note that very few applications use this metal in its pure form. Rather, it is one of the few metals that are combined with others (such as aluminum) to create alloys. More than 20% of zinc appliances on the global market are composed of zinc alloys. 

Why You Need Metals That Conduct Heat Well

All metals have their unique properties and conduct heat differently. In some cases, your metal would need to conduct and hold or transfer heat efficiently to fulfill your product’s intended purpose. This is why it’s important to look at each possible material individually before choosing one for your metal project. For example, a water heater needs to conduct heat in a different way than electronic appliances do.

Applications of Heat Conductive Metals

Here are some examples of equipment and devices that need different kinds of heat conductive metals.

Heat Exchangers

A heat exchanger is where the metal needs to be able to transfer heat efficiently to achieve heating or cooling. Copper and aluminum are the best and most affordable choices in these cases, as their structure allows heat to pass through them quickly. 

Heat exchangers are usually found in:

• Industrial facilities
• Solar and thermal systems
• Gas and water systems
• Air heating and cooling systems

Heat Sinks

Heat sinks are a type of heat exchanger that transfers heat into a moving coolant fluid. This system allows the device to quickly cool to the desired temperature. Heat sinks are commonly found in computers, power transistors, lasers, and LEDs (light-emitting diodes).  These heat sinks are commonly made from aluminum and/or aluminum alloys.. This is because aluminum can absorb and transfer heat rapidly, is highly formable, and is an affordable metal. 

Cookware

A more common application for metals with good thermal conductivity is cookware. When frying, grilling, searing, and broiling food, you need a metal that can quickly heat up and hold that temperature across its surface for as long as you need. This is why metals like aluminum are often used to make cookware. When using aluminum, you’ll have pots and pans that rapidly heat up, and evenly cook your food. 

Key Takeaway

Looking for the best metal conductors of heat for your job? If you’re considering aluminum, then work with the finest in the Philippine industry — AMC Aluminum! We offer a large and diverse aluminum profile inventory as well as extensive in-house capabilities sure to meet your project requirements. For questions or information on our products and services, send us a message here.