The Low Temperature Thermal Conductivities of Glassy Carbons

Abstract

Glassy carbon is a dense, black material with the appearance and mechanical properties of a glass. A comparison of glassy carbons with other more familar forms of carbon may be found in a review by Mrozowski^l. Glassy carbons are used commercially for such diverse applications as sample supports in high-temperature furnaces and as electrical heaters in hair blow-dryers. The author has been interested in glassy carbons for two reasons, first, to determine if glassy carbons exhibit the low-temperature properties which are characteristic of amorphous materials and, second, to determine if glassy carbons would be suitable as a construction material in cryogenic apparatus.