Is plastic a heat insulator or heat conductor?
“plastic” takes in a rather broad spectrum. It is a medium to poor conductor of heat. plastic that has closed cell air bubbles like a coffee cup acts as an excellent insulator, however it is the air pockets that make it effective. Plastics can be used on cookware to give an insulated handle. Epoxy compounds can join materials that need thermal conduction, especially if the epoxy is doped with metal plastic is “blind” to radiation, so it allows ice to form quickly when the tray is put in the freezer as heat radiates out of the water. far superior in function to aluminum trays even though aluminum is a better conductor of heat.