Thermal conductivity measurement based on phase change materials

A system of determining a thermal conductivity of a sample, comprising:

• a first phase change material configured to transition from a first phase to a second phase at a phase change temperature;
• a thermal source configured to maintain a constant temperature higher than the phase change temperature, wherein the phase change material and the thermal source are placed on different sides of the sample to allow a thermal conduction from the thermal source to the phase change material and cause the phase change material to transition from the first phase to the second phase;
• one or more sensors coupled to the phase change material and configured to perform a measurement on at least one of the sample or the phase change material;
• and
• a processor coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to determine the thermal conductivity of the sample based on at least the measurement on the at least one of the sample or the phase change material.

A method of determining a thermal conductivity of a sample, comprising:

• shaping a first phase change material to conform to a shape of the sample to ensure good thermal contact with the sample and accuracy in determining the thermal conductivity of the sample;
• placing the sample and the first phase change material each in a solid phase to be in thermal contact with a second phase change material in a liquid phase to allow thermal conduction from the second phase change material to the first phase change material and to cause the first phase change material to transition from the solid phase to the liquid phase;
• measuring a duration for the first phase change material between a first time when at least a portion of the first phase change material transitions from the solid phase to the liquid phase and a second time when substantially all the first phase change material transitions to the liquid phase;
• and
• determining the thermal conductivity of the sample based on at least the duration.