Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Sources4 documents: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Brick Industry Association
Values for
Natural. Solid extruded clay/shale brick units (BIA 1993 manufacturer survey, TN 3A 2024); face brick of 130 lb/ft3 for thermal properties (BIA TN 4, from ASHRAE 2013); CTE is the TMS Code value for clay/shale masonry
1
Strength of Masonry Walls Under Compressive and Transverse Loads (Building Science Series 34)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyUltimate tensile strength: modulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)
2
Technical Notes 3A: Brick Masonry Material PropertiesBrick Industry AssociationCompressive strength: mean unit compressive strength, solid extruded brick (survey mean; SD 30.8 MPa)Thermal expansion: TMS Code average coefficient, clay/shale unit masonry
3
Technical Notes 4: Introduction to Energy Performance of Brick Masonry (2016)Brick Industry Associationarchived copyDensity: face brick density row used for k (BIA notes most fired clay brick 120-130 lb/ft3)Thermal conductivity: range for 130 lb/ft3 face brick (ASHRAE 2013 via BIA)
4
Technical Notes 4B: Energy Code Compliance of Brick Masonry WallsBrick Industry Associationarchived copySpecific heat: value used in BIA heat-capacity sample calculation
Brick has a thermal conductivity of 0.92–1.12 W/m·K (0.532–0.647 BTU/hr·ft·°F). Basis: range for 130 lb/ft3 face brick (ASHRAE 2013 via BIA). Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Notes 4: Introduction to Energy Performance of Brick Masonry (2016)archived copy.
Specific heat of Brick
The specific heat capacity of Brick is 837 J/kg·K (0.2 BTU/lb·°F). Basis: value used in BIA heat-capacity sample calculation. Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Notes 4B: Energy Code Compliance of Brick Masonry Wallsarchived copy.
Coefficient of thermal expansion of Brick
Brick expands 7.2 µm/m·K (4 µin/in·°F): a 100 mm part grows 36 µm over a 50 °C rise. Basis: TMS Code average coefficient, clay/shale unit masonry. Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Notes 3A: Brick Masonry Material Properties.
Thermal diffusivity of Brick
Computed from the conductivity, density and specific heat (k / ρc): 0.585 mm²/s, how fast a temperature change spreads through it.