MIL-PRF-83282 Thermal Conductivity Chart

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MIL-PRF-83282 thermal conductivity vs temperature in degrees F, compared with MIL-PRF-5606

Measured values for MIL-PRF-83282 (NADC-79248-60 Table 8) at -18, 38, 93, 149 and 204 °C, shown as markers.
The line is a straight-line fit drawn only from -18 to 204 °C; nothing is extrapolated.

The data are for the 1980 NADC reference lot of MIL-H-83282 (lot and revision not stated). The blue MIL-PRF-5606 series covers the same -18 to 204 °C range and is not extended beyond it.

Data from: NADC-79248-60 (Conte & Hammond, 1980), DTIC ADA081597, Table 8 (measured, MIL-H-83282 and MIL-H-83282 columns).

Toggle data sets by clicking the legend.

MIL-PRF-83282 Thermal Conductivity Calculator
Degrees (°F):
Degrees (°C):
W / (m·K):  
mW / (m·K):  
BTU / (h·ft·°F):  
BTU·in / (h·ft²·°F):  
W / (cm·K):  
MIL-PRF-5606 (W / (m·K)):  

Calculator valid -0.4 °F to 399.2 °F (-18 °C to 204 °C), using the linear fit to the NADC-79248-60 Table 8 measurements. The MIL-PRF-5606 row uses the same kind of fit to its own NADC measurements over the same range.

Thermal Conductivity of MIL-PRF-83282 Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid
About This Data

The thermal conductivity values are the MIL-H-83282 entries of Table 8 in NADC-79248-60 (Conte & Hammond, Naval Air Development Center, 1980, DTIC ADA081597), tabulated in W/(m·K) at -18, 38, 93, 149 and 204 °C (-0.4, 100.4, 199.4, 300.2 and 399.2 °F). The report does not state the measurement method, the specification revision (MIL-H-83282 predates the MIL-PRF designation) or the lot tested, and it gives no uncertainty. Treat the data as the 1980 NADC reference lot of MIL-H-83282 (lot and revision not stated).

The straight line k = 0.17956 − 0.000327925 · T°C W/(m·K) is the least-squares fit to the five measured points. It departs from the tabulated values by at most 0.0009 W/(m·K) and is used only between -18 °C and 204 °C. The chart and calculator are not extended beyond those temperatures.

MIL-PRF-83282 is a fire-resistant, synthetic hydrocarbon aircraft hydraulic fluid, dyed red. Across its range the fitted thermal conductivity falls by about 0.073 W/(m·K), from 0.1855 W/(m·K) at -18 °C to 0.1127 W/(m·K) at 204 °C. That is a steeper fall than for MIL-PRF-5606 (about 0.017 W/(m·K)).

MIL-PRF-83282 — Thermal Conductivity vs. Temperature
Temp (°C) Temp (°F) λ measured (W/m·K) λ measured (mW/m·K) Linear fit (W/m·K)
-18-0.40.1851850.18546
38100.40.1671670.16710
93199.40.1501500.14906
149300.20.1311310.13070
204399.20.1121120.11266

Columns 3–4 are the NADC-79248-60 Table 8 measurements (MIL-H-83282). Last column: straight-line fit, valid -18–204 °C. Method, specification revision and lot are not stated in the report, and no uncertainty is given.

MIL-PRF-83282 vs MIL-PRF-5606

MIL-PRF-83282 is a synthetic hydrocarbon fluid; MIL-PRF-5606 is a petroleum (mineral oil) hydraulic fluid. In the same NADC table, MIL-PRF-83282 conducts heat better when cool (about 33 % better at -18 °C) and worse when hot (about 8 % worse at 204 °C). The two curves cross near 165 °C. The report text says the conductivities are about equal between 163 and 191 °C.

Temp (°C) Temp (°F) MIL-PRF-83282 (W/m·K) MIL-PRF-5606 (W/m·K) Difference (W/m·K) Difference (% of MIL-PRF-5606)
-18-0.40.185460.139610.0458532.8 %
032.00.179560.138220.0413429.9 %
38100.40.167100.135280.0318223.5 %
60140.00.159880.133570.0263119.7 %
93199.40.149060.131010.0180513.8 %
149300.20.130700.126670.004033.2 %
163325.40.126110.125590.000520.4 %
191375.80.116930.12342-0.00649-5.3 %
204399.20.112660.12241-0.00975-8.0 %

Both columns use the linear fit to the NADC-79248-60 Table 8 measurements, -18–204 °C only. The MIL-PRF-5606 fit is k = 0.13822 − 0.000077493 · T°C W/(m·K). Both come from the same report, but the lot and specification revision are not stated for either. Differences are computed from the values shown.

Sources
  • A. A. Conte Jr. and J. L. Hammond, Development of a High Temperature Silicone Base Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid, NADC-79248-60, Naval Air Development Center, Warminster PA, 5 Feb 1980. DTIC ADA081597. apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA081597. Table 8 (MIL-H-83282 and MIL-H-83282 columns, thermal conductivity), accessed 25 Oct 2026.
  • US Department of Defense, MIL-PRF-83282D, Performance Specification: Hydraulic Fluid, Fire Resistant, Synthetic Hydrocarbon Base, Metric, NATO Code Number H-537, 30 September 1997, with Amendment 1. everyspec.com. Identification of the fluid; the specification has no thermal conductivity requirement.

The NADC report does not state the specification revision or lot of the MIL-H-83282 tested, and gives no measurement uncertainty. Data are also listed in tools/mil-prf-83282-sources.json.

Cite This Work