Effect of thermal properties and thickness for various metals on the Leidenfrost temperature

Despite its wide range of real-life applicability, the combined effect of the thermal properties and thickness of a heater on the Leidenfrost temperature (TL) of the system has not been explored. Thus, this study investigates the effects of thermal properties and thickness on the TL using four different metal specimens (Inconel 718, AISI 304 stainless steel, brass, and aluminum). Our experimental results show that the TL decreases with an increase in the thickness of the specimens up to a threshold value. Herein, this varying TL, which varies with thickness, is called transient Leidenfrost temperature (TL,TR) in this study. When the thickness of the sample exceeds the asymptotic thickness, TL became constant, which is termed as the asymptotic Leidenfrost temperature (TL,ASY) in this study. The dependency of the Leidenfrost phenomenon on the thermal properties and thickness can be described by simultaneously considering the heat capacity and heat propagation characteristics; however, in case of the thick specimens, the TL,ASY is mainly considered to be resultant of the speed of heat propagation, including the heat -transfer performance. Consequently, two different trends of the Leidenfrost phenomenon can be predicted.