Tile Has Higher Thermal Conductivity Than Carpet

Specific heat has to do with how much energy is needed to raise an object s temperature.

Tile has higher thermal conductivity than carpet.

Thermal conductivity explains why walking bare foot on a cold tile floor feels much cooler than walking on carpet even though both are at room temperature. Of carpet with its millions of tiny fibres traps air and further increases its thermal insulation. This value will not differ much between 273 and 343 k 0 70 c. Tiles feel warmer than carpet when the floor is hot.

It simply has a higher conductivity and density and thus removes more heat from your relatively warm body more rapidly. Pvc tile has only 1 3 of the insulation of wool carpet. As can be seen from the table the thermal resistance of carpet is significantly higher than that of concrete and plywood two common flooring materials and similar to fiberglass insulation. Carpet ranks very highly i e.

Heat conductivity is all about the rate at which the material can conduct heat. Thus any statement that tile is one of the coldest floor materials is quite simply a misconception. However because marble tiles are usually twice as thick as ceramic tiles they offer greater protection against thermal conductivity. Wool carpet had a higher insulation value than comparable carpets of other fibre types.

Carpet particularly wool and shag varieties provides the best r values among all standard flooring choices. For example wool carpet rates a maximum r value of 2 1 while other types of carpet can rate as low. Tile and rocks have a higher thermal conductivity than carpet and fabrics so they can transfer heat away from a foot at a much quicker rate making the tile appear cool to the touch. Pvc tile has only 1 3 of the insulation of wool carpet.

The thermal conductivity normally found in tables is the value valid for normal room temperature. Car pet r anks very highl y i e. Wool carpet had a higher insulation value than com parable carpets of other fibre types. The thermal insulation values r values of different household materials are compared in figure 1.

The best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating is tile and stone. When high temperatures are involved in ovens for instance the influence of temperature has to be taken into account. Tile and stone have a high thermal conductivity meaning that the heat from an underfloor heating pipe or wire transfers to the floor surface quickly. Thermal conductivity of the material.