Mattias Gustavsson

Dr. Mattias Gustavsson has served as CEO of Hot Disk AB – a spin‑off from Chalmers University of Technology – since 2005. He earned his PhD in thermo‑ and fluid dynamics from Chalmers in 2000 and subsequently held a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan (2002–2004). He has contributed to the development of the Hot Disk® TPS technique and has published over 50 scientific articles.

Alongside his work advancing the Hot Disk method for near‑equilibrium thermal transport analysis across a range of geometries, he has maintained a theoretical interest in far‑from‑equilibrium processes—originally sparked by questions on wear and wood‑chip attrition. This led to the residual thermodynamics framework (2012), which has since shown promise for analyzing turbulent flows. He has received the SKF Best Master’s Thesis Award (1994) and the Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal Best Paper Award (2008).

Title: TPS Sensors Beyond the Expected: Odd Applications and New Insights 

Abstract: The Transient Plane Source (TPS) method is known for accurate, rapid thermal conductivity measurements on almost any material. How can we extend the range of applications? This keynote explores five unusual journeys where TPS sensors unlocked surprising physical insights. We begin with quantifying near‑field radiative heat transfer across nanoscale gaps. Next, we correlate the thermophysical properties of beef with different quality grades. A third journey covers the use of TPS in earthquake research, for instance, mapping bore cores to provide insights into the damage zone of faults. Fourth, we examine exterior thermal-effusivity testing to estimate the intrinsic thermal conductivity of a prismatic battery cell encapsulated in highly conductive aluminum—without destructive disassembly. A fifth, lighter-touch journey explores depth‑resolved probing of the effects of skin cream on live human skin. These examples illustrate how a single versatile sensor can generate knowledge far beyond its originally intended use.