However the efficiency of cryogenic insulation materials is not solely determined by low thermal conductivity.
Ceramic thermal conductivity cryogenic.
The data are compared with those of other materials commonly used in the construction of cryogenic apparatus.
The thermal conductivity is specified by the unit of measure w m k.
The role of impurities and of crystallites is discussed.
The problem with the thermal conductivity of ceramics is the dependence on the composition grain size and manufacturing process which make it rather difficult to obtain a reliable value from literature only.
Not all properties are available for all materials.
The lower this value for a material is the lower its thermal conductivity and the better it is at avoiding thermal bridges.
Ceramics especially zirconia based ceramics have been an attractive candidate for fundamental research at cryogenic temperatures due to their favorable mechanical properties corrosion resistance.
The materials currently in the database are ones commonly used in the construction of cryogenic hardware.
Looking at the values quoted in various handbooks papers and data sheets two things are observed.