Wiedemann-Franz law

Question

The Wiedemann-Franz law states that the ratio of thermal conductivity $\kappa$ and electrical conductivity $\sigma$ for metals fairly accurately obeys $\kappa/\sigma = LT$, where $T$ is the temperature and $L$ is the Lorenz number, whose value is in the order of $2 \cdot 10^{-8}$ in SI units.

Assuming that $\kappa$ refers only to the electronic contribution to heat capacity, I understand how one can derive this law, or at least justify it, in a free electron model. In the classical Drude model, one then finds $L = 3k_B^2/(2e^2)$, and in a quantum mechanical free electron treatment, one finds $L = \pi^2k_B^2/(3e^2)$.

However, what about the lattice contribution to thermal conductivity? I understand that the electronic contribution might be dominant for most metals. The example of diamond (which is not a metal and hence the Wiedemann-Franz law is not expected to hold), however, shows that the lattice contribution can have the same order of magnitude as the electronic contribution, since diamond has comparable heat conductivity metals at room temperature. One important reason for the high thermal conductivity of diamond is the scarcity of defects. Does that mean that if we could produce a sample of metal with very few defects, the lattice contribution would be important? Is it important even for metals with defects?

Answer 1

To expand on nasu's answer, the delocalized electrons in a metal make them a lot more free to carry heat. This will keep the electronic contribution to heat transfer a lot more efficient than anything else in most metals. And conversely prevent metals from ever be good thermoelectric materials, because of how easily they thermalize.

Answer 2

That's a pretty neat question, I think. The restriction that it only should be applied for metals means that the dominant thermal carriers are going to be electrons, and since the thermal and charge carriers are the same particle, there is some simple ratio of the two. I suppose there is unease about the use of "Law" despite it really being an approximation, true really only for the homogeneous electron gas. Ohm's Law has a similar problem, and is much more clearly broken.