Experimental Study of Thermal Conductivity of Selected Building Materials Used in Akwa Ibom State

Thermal conductivity is a fundamental physical property that determines the heat transfer performance of construction materials, directly affecting building energy efficiency. This study experimentally measures the thermal conductivity of five commonly used building materials in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria, including sandcrete blocks, laterite bricks, clay tiles, aluminum roofing sheets, and wood panels. A Lee's disc apparatus and a modified hot-wire method were employed for measurements under controlled laboratory conditions at the University of Uyo. Samples were collected from local markets and construction sites across three senatorial districts to ensure geographic representation. Temperature gradients were maintained at standardized differentials and thermal conductivity was derived using Fourier's law of heat conduction. Results indicate that laterite bricks exhibit significantly lower thermal conductivity compared to sandcrete blocks, suggesting greater suitability for passive cooling in the humid tropical climate of the South South zone. Aluminum roofing panels recorded the highest conductivity values, consistent with their metallic composition. The study contextualizes findings within recent literature on sustainable building design in tropical West Africa. Practical recommendations are made for architects and construction engineers seeking thermally efficient housing solutions in coastal Nigerian states. This work fills a localized data gap and provides baseline thermal benchmarks for future building energy simulation studies. Keywords: thermal conductivity, building materials, Akwa Ibom, heat transfer, passive cooling