Thermal energy, or heat, is a form of energy that is related to the movement of particles within a substance. Materials can affect the transfer of thermal energy in several ways.
Thermal conductivity: The ability of a material to conduct heat is known as its thermal conductivity. Materials with high thermal conductivity, such as metal, are good at transferring heat, while materials with low thermal conductivity, such as insulation, are poor at transferring heat.
Specific heat capacity: The specific heat capacity of a material is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a given mass of the material by one degree Celsius. Materials with a high specific heat capacity require more heat to be absorbed or released to undergo a change in temperature.
Thermal expansion: When a material is heated, it expands. The amount of expansion is dependent on the material's coefficient of thermal expansion. Materials with a high coefficient of thermal expansion will expand significantly when heated, while materials with a low coefficient of thermal expansion will expand less.
Emissivity: Emissivity is a measure of a material's ability to emit thermal energy in the form of radiation. Materials with high emissivity are good at emitting thermal energy, while materials with low emissivity are poor at emitting thermal energy.
In summary, the relationship between materials and thermal energy transfer is that different materials have different properties that affect how they conduct, absorb, emit, and expand with thermal energy.