| Soleron said: High specific heat capacity (takes a lot of energy to warm up) OR high heat conductivity (saps heat from your body rapidly). Your body's perception of heat is actually based on the rate of heat transfer so the second will register as cold even though the material may be at room temperature. This is why metals are cold to the touch. |
The bolded section right here. Thermal conductivity causes the heat to transfer from your body. And because the thermal conductivity ( k ) for ceramic is much higher than the thermal convection coefficient (h) for air, heat is transferred from the higher temperature body faster when ceramic is involved. q = k delta T for ceramic and q = h delta T for air. K is used in conduction when two solids (usually) are actually touching and h is used in convection when a fluid (air or liquid) is moving past a solid. Conduction coefficients are for the most part higher than convection coefficients.
Edit: apparently you have to add spaces when writing a "k" in parenthesis or you get a kissing emoticon.....
