[time-nuts] Thermal time constant

[Bruce Griffiths]

phil at pseng.org.uk wrote:
> Looking at the specific heat of metals:
> http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-metals-d_152.html
> Wouldn't Beryllium be better instead of aluminium?
> I could foresee a few problems though eg machining holes at home, 
> never mind where to get a block from.
>
> Phil
>
Actually in this application minimising the volume of the metal block 
rather than its weight is probably better so one should use specific 
heat*density as a figure of merit.

METAL            Specific heat*density (W/J/cubic cm)
Aluminium         2.46

Beryllium            3.29

Copper               3.49

Silver                  2.41

Iron                    3.87

Thus copper and iron are better choices than Beryllium they also poses 
fewer machining diffculties

Bruce