Sensible heat
Q = m x c x Delta T
Material property lookup
Specific Heat Capacity of Common Materials
Compare heat capacity values for metals, polymers, fluids, wood, concrete, and glass.
Instant heat-capacity lookup
Select a material or case
Select a material to view specific heat capacity in SI and imperial units.
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Reference table
Specific heat capacity table
| Material | Group | Specific Heat (J/kg.K) | Specific Heat (Btu/lb.deg F) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water at 25 C | Fluid | 4182 | 0.999 | High heat capacity reference |
| Aluminum | Metal | 900 | 0.215 | Common aluminum value |
| Carbon Steel | Metal | 486 | 0.116 | Typical steel value |
| Stainless Steel | Metal | 500 | 0.119 | Typical stainless value |
| Copper | Metal | 385 | 0.092 | Common copper value |
| Lead | Metal | 128 | 0.031 | Low heat capacity metal |
| Glass | Ceramic | 840 | 0.201 | Approximate value |
| Concrete | Construction | 880 | 0.210 | Mix and moisture dependent |
| Wood | Wood | 1700 | 0.406 | Species and moisture dependent |
| Polyethylene (PE) | Polymer | 1900 | 0.454 | Typical polymer value |
| Polycarbonate | Polymer | 1200 | 0.287 | Engineering thermoplastic |
Formulas
Specific heat formulas
Temperature change
Delta T = Q / (m x c)
Specific heat capacity changes with temperature and material condition. Use temperature-specific data for final thermal design.
Reference
How engineers use specific heat
Thermal mass
Higher heat capacity means more energy is needed to change temperature.
Heating and cooling
Specific heat is used to estimate heat loads and temperature rise.
Transient analysis
Heat capacity affects warm-up, cool-down, and thermal response time.
Material selection
Thermal storage and temperature stability often depend on heat capacity.
FAQ
Specific heat questions
What is specific heat of water?
Water near room temperature has a specific heat of about 4182 J/(kg.K).
What is specific heat of steel?
A common reference value for carbon steel is about 486 J/(kg.K).
What formula uses specific heat?
The common sensible heat equation is Q = m x c x Delta T.
Related
Common material property tables
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Bulk modulus values for common solids and fluids used in compressibility checks.
Density of Common Materials
Density values for metals, polymers, ceramics, and construction materials.
Friction Coefficients of Common Materials
Static and kinetic friction coefficients for common material pairs.
Hardness Conversion Table
Approximate Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, and tensile strength conversion values.
Melting Point of Common Materials
Melting point reference values for common metals, plastics, and engineering materials.
Poisson's Ratio of Common Materials
Poisson ratio values for common engineering solids.