As
an example, although the thermal conductivity of aluminum is 16 times that of stainless steel, this
does not translate into a 16-fold difference in interfacial thermal energy flux densities. Nor does it
result in a markedly greater perceived coldness of aluminum; the difference is barely perceptible.
Similarly, despite the 600-fold difference in the thermal conductivity of iron relative to that of wood,
the ratio of thermal energy flux densities is only about 4.6.