Radiance temperatures (in the wavelength range 522–906 nm) of niobium at its melting point by a pulse-heating technique

Radiance temperatures (at six wavelengths in the range 522–906 nm) of niobium at its melting point were measured by a pulse-heating technique. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the specimen from room temperature to its melting point in less than 1 s and on simultaneously measuring the specimen radiance temperatures every 0.5 ms with a high-speed multiwavelength pyrometer. Melting was manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperatureversus-time function for each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for a given specimen were determined by averaging the measured temperatures along the plateau at each wavelength (standard deviation of an individual temperature from the mean: 0.1–0.4 K). The melting-point radiance temperatures for niobium were determined, by averaging the results at each wavelength for 10 specimens (standard deviation: 0.3 K), as follows: 2497 K at 522 nm, 2445 K at 617 nm, 2422 K at 653 nm, 2393 K at 708 nm, 2337 K at 809 nm, and 2282 K at 906 nm. Based on estimates of the random and systematic errors arising from pyrometry and specimen conditions, the total error in the reported values is about 5 K at 653 nm and 6 K at the other wavelengths.Paper presented at the Second Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, September 20–21, 1990, Torino, Italy.     

Radiance temperatures (in the wavelength range 525 to 906 nm) of vanadium at its melting point by a pulse-heating technique

The radiance temperatures (at six wavelengths in the range 525 to 906 nm) of vanadium at its melting point were measured by a pulse-heating technique. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the specimen from room temperature to its melting point in less than 1 s and on simultaneously measuring the specimen radiance temperatures every 0.5 ms with a high-speed six-wavelength pyrometer. Melting was manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperature-vs-time function for each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for a given specimen were determined by averaging the measured temperatures along the plateau at each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for vanadium as determined by averaging the results at each wavelength for 16 specimens (standard deviation in the range 0.3 to 0.4 K. depending on the wavelength) are 2030 K at 525 nm, 1998 K at 622 nm, 1988 K at 652 nm, 1968 K at 714 nm, 1935 K at 809 nm, and 1900 K at 906 nm. Based on estimates of the random and systematic errors that arise from pyrometry and specimen conditions, the resultant uncertainty (2 SD level) in the reported values is about ±7 K at each wavelength.     

Radiance temperatures (in the wavelength range 519–906 nm) of tungsten at its melting point by a pulse-heating technique

Radiance temperatures (at six wavelengths in the range 519–906 nm) of tungsten at its melting point were measured by a pulse-heating technique. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the specimen from room temperature to its melting point in less than 1 s; and on simultaneously measuring the specimen radiance temperatures every 0.5 ms with a high-speed six-wavelength pyrometer. Melting was manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperature versus time function for each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for a given specimen were determined by averaging the measured temperatures along the plateau at each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for tungsten were determined by averaging the results at each wavelength for 10 specimens (standard deviation in the range 0.5–1.1 K, depending on the wavelength) as follows: 3319 K at 519 nm, 3236 K at 615 nm, 3207 K at 652 nm, 3157 K at 707 nm, 3078 K at 808 nm, and 2995 K at 906 nm. Based on estimates of the random and systematic errors arising from pyrometry and specimen conditions, the total uncertainty in the reported values is about ±7 K at 653 nm and ± 8 K at the other wavelengths.Paper presented at the Third Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, September 17–18, 1992, Graz, Austria.     

Radiance temperatures (at 658 and 898 nm) of niobium at its melting point

Radiance temperatures (at 658 and 898 nm) of niobium at its melting point were measured by a pulse-heating technique. A current pulse of subsecond duration was imparted to a niobium strip and the initial part of the melting plateau was measured by high-speed pyrometry. Experiments were performed with two techniques and the results do not indicate any dependence of radiance temperature (at the melting point) on initial surface or system operational conditions. The average radiance temperature at the melting point of niobium is 2420 K at 658 nm and 2288 K at 898 nm, with a standard deviation of 0.4 K at 658 nm and 0.3–0.6 K at 898 nm (depending on the technique used). The total uncertainty in radiance temperature is estimated to be not more than ±6 K. The results are in good agreement with earlier measurements at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) and confirm that both radiance temperature and normal spectral emissivity (of niobium at its melting point) decrease with increasing wavelength in the region 500–900 nm.Paper presented at the Third Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, September 17–18, 1992, Graz, Austria.     

Radiance temperatures at 1500 nm of niobium and molybdenum at their melting points by a pulse-heating technique

Radiance temperatures at 1500 nm of niobium and molybdenum at their melting points were measured by a pulse-heating technique. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the strip-shaped specimen from room temperature to its melting point in less than I s and measuring the specimen radiance temperature every 0.5 ms with a high-speed infrared pyrometer. Melting of the specimen was manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperature-versus-time function. The melting-point radiance temperature for a given specimen was determined by averaging the measured values along the plateau. A total of 12 to 13 experiments was performed for each metal under investigation. The melting point radiance temperatures for each metal were determined by averaging the results of the individual specimens. The results for radiance temperatures at 1500 nm are as follows: 1983 K for niobium and 2050 K for molybdenum. Based on the estimates of the uncertainties arising from the use of pyrometry and specimen conditions, the combined uncertainty (two standard-deviation level) in the reported values is ± 8 K.Paper presented at the Fourth International Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, June 27–29, 1995, Köln, Germany.     

Radiance temperature (at 653 nm) of tungsten at its melting point

The radiance temperature (at 653 nm) of tungsten at its melting point was measured using a subsecond-duration pulse-heating technique. Specimens in the form of strips with initially different surface roughnesses were used. The results do not indicate any dependence of radiance temperature (at the melting point) on initial surface or system operational conditions. The average radiance temperature (at 653 nm) at the melting point for 23 tungsten specimens is 3208 K on IPTS-68, with a standard deviation of 0.8 K and a maximum absolute deviation of 1.9 K. The total error in the radiance temperature is estimated to be not more than ± 10 K.     

Apparatus for realizing the ITS-90 in the temperature range from the triple point of argon to the melting point of gallium

Systems for realizing the fixed points of the ITS-90 for calibrating column and capsule standard platinum thermometers, namely, the triple points of argon and mercury and the melting point of gallium, are constructed and investigated. The errors of the values of the metrological characteristics of the systems obtained enable one, using platinum resistance thermometers, to reproduce and transfer the temperature scale in the 83.8–302.9 K range. The extended uncertainty in reproducing the temperatures of the fixed points does not exceed 0.4 mK. This paper has been prepared from the contributions presented at the 3rd All-Russia Conference “Temperature 2007”; see the selection of papers in Measurement Techniques, Nos. 8 and 9, 2007. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 11, pp. 26–31, November, 2007.     

A dynamic technique for thermophysical measurements at high temperatures in a microgravity environment

Millisecond-resolution dynamic techniques for thermophysical measurements, when utilized in the laboratory, are limited to the study of materials in their solid phase because the specimen becomes geometrically unstable during melting and collapses, due (at least in part) to the influence of gravity. Therefore, a millisecond-resolution dynamic technique is being developed for use in a microgravity environment in order to extend accurate measurements of selected thermophysical properties of electrically conducting refractory materials to temperatures above their melting point. The basic method involves heating the specimen resistively from ambient temperature to temperatures above its melting point in about 1 s by passing an electrical current pulse through it, while simultaneously recording the pertinent experimental quantities. A compact pulse-heating system, suitable for microgravity simulations with NASA's KC-135 aircraft, has been constructed and initial experiments have been performed to study the geometrical stability of rapidly melting specimens. Preliminary results show that rod-shaped specimens can be successfully pulseheated into their liquid phase.Paper presented at the First Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, June 20–21, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.Formerly National Bureau of Standards     

Measurement of Melting Point and Radiance Temperature (at Melting Point and at 653 nm) of Hafnium-3 (wt. %) Zirconium by a Pulse Heating Method

A subsecond duration pulse heating method is used to measure the melting point and radiance temperature (at 653 nm) at the melting point of hafnium containing 3.12 weight percent zirconium. The results yield a value of 2471 K for the melting point on the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968. The radiance temperature (at 653 nm) of this material at its melting point is 2236 K, and the corresponding normal spectral emittance is 0.39. Estimated inaccuracies are: 10 K in the melting point and in the radiance temperature, and 5 percent in the normal spectral emittance.     

Measurement of surface tension of tantalum by a dynamic technique in a microgravity environment

A dynamic technique has been used in a microgravity environment to measure the surface tension of tantalum at its melting point. The basic method involves resistively heating a tubular specimen from ambient temperature to temperatures above its melting point in about 1 s by passing an electrical current pulse through it, while simultaneously measuring the pertinent experimental quantities with millisecond resolution. A balance between the magnetic and the surface tension forces acting on the specimen is achieved by splitting the current after it passes through the specimen tube and returning a fraction of the current along the tube axis and the remaining fraction concentrically outside the specimen. Values for surface tension are determined from measurements of the equilibrium dimensions of the molten specimen tube and the magnitudes of the currents. Rapid melting experiments were performed during microgravity simulations with NASA's KC-135 aircraft and the results were analyzed, yielding a value of 2.07±0.06 N · m^–1 for the surface tension of tantalum at its melting point. Conditions for improving specimen stability during temperature excursions into the liquid phase are discussed.     

Measurement of the heat of fusion of molybdenum by a microsecond-resolution transient technique

A microsecond-resolution pulse-heating technique was used for the measurement of heat of fusion of molybdenum. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the specimen by a high-current pulse from a capacitor discharge system and measuring current through the specimen, voltage across the specimen, and radiance temperature of the specimen as functions of time. Melting of the specimen is manifested by a plateau in the temperature versus time function. The time integral of the power absorbed by the specimen during melting yields the heat of fusion. Measurements gave a value of 36.4 kJ · mol^–1 for the heat of fusion of molybdenum with an estimated maximum uncertainty of±6%.Paper presented at the First Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, June 20–21, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.Formerly National Bureau of Standards     

The melting point of palladium by a pulse heating method

The melting point of 99.95⁺% pure palladium was measured by means of a subsecond duration pulse heating technique. The average temperature at the melting point for three specimens was 1827 K with an average absolute deviation from the mean of 0.1 K. The total error in temperature is estimated to be not more than ±4 K.     

Normal Spectral Emissivity of Niobium (at 900 nm) by a Pulse-Heating Reflectometric Technique

The normal spectral emissivity of niobium strip specimens was measured using a new pulse-heating reflectometric technique. The hemispherical spectral reflectivity of the surface of a strip tangent to an integrating sphere is determined by a high-speed lock-in technique. At the same time, the radiance temperature of the strip is measured by high-speed pyrometry from approximately 1000K to the melting point. Details of the measurement method and of the related calibration techniques are reported. Results of the normal spectral emissivity of niobium at 900 nm from room temperature to its melting point are presented, discussing differences related to the heating rate and to surface conditions.     

Measurement of the heat of fusion of tungsten by a microsecond-resolution transient technique

A microsecond-resolution pulse-heating technique was used for the measurement of the heat of fusion of tungsten. The method is based on rapid (100 to 125s) resistive self-heating of a specimen by a high-current pulse from a capacitor discharge system and measuring current through the specimen and voltage across the specimen as functions of time. Melting of a specimen is manifested by changes in the slope of the electrical resistance versus time function. The time integral of the power absorbed by a specimen during melting yields the heat of fusion. Measurements gave a value of 48.7 kJ · mol^–1 for the heat of fusion of tungsten with an estimated maximum uncertainty of ±6%. The electrical resistivity of solid and liquid tungsten at its melting temperature was also measured.Paper presented at the Third Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, September 17–18, 1992, Graz, Austria.     

Measurement of the heat of fusion of tantalum by a microsecond-resolution transient technique

The heat of fusion of tantalum was measured using a microsecond-resolution pulse-heating technique. The technique is based on rapid (about 100-s) resistive self-heating of a specimen by a high-current pulse from a capacitor discharge system and measuring the current through the specimen, voltage across the specimen, and radiance temperature of the specimen as functions of time. Melting of a specimen is manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperature versus time function. The time integral of the power absorbed by the specimen during melting yields the heat of fusion. Measurements gave a value of 34.8 kJ · mot^– for the heat of fusion of tantalum, with a total uncertainty of ±6%. Electrical resistivity of solid and liquid tantalum at its melting temperature was also measured.     

Melting temperature of nickel by a pulse heating technique

The melting temperature of 99.98⁺ % pure nickel was measured by means of a subsecond duration pulse heating technique. The results, based on IPTS-68, yield a value of 1729 K for the melting temperature with an estimated maximum uncertainty of ±4 K.     

Radiance temperatures (in the wavelength range 523–907 nm) of group IVB transition metals titanium,zirconium, and hafnium at their melting points by a pulse-heating technique

The melting-point radiance temperatures (at six wavelengths in the range 523–907 nm) of the Group IVB transition metals titanium, zirconium, and hafnium were measured by a pulse-heating technique. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of the specimen from room temperature to its melting point in less than 1 s and on simultaneously measuring the specimen radiance temperatures every 0.5 ms with a high-speed six-wavelength pyrometer. Melting was manifested by a plateau in the radiance temperature-versus-time function for each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for a given specimen were determined by averaging the measured temperatures along the plateau at each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for each metal were determined by averaging results for several specimens at each wavelength as follows: Based on estimates of the random and systematic errors arising from pyrometry and specimen conditions, the combined uncertainty (95% confidence level) in the reported values is about ±8K at each wavelength.     

A transient (subsecond) technique for measuring heat of fusion of metals

A transient technique is described for measuring the heats of fusion of metals with melting temperatures above 1500 K. The specimen configuration consists of a strip of the metal under study sandwiched between two strips of another metal with a higher melting temperature. The basic method consists of rapidly heating the composite specimen by passing a subsecond-duration electrical current pulse through it and simultaneously measuring the radiance temperature of the containment metal surface, as well as the current through and voltage drop across the specimen. The melting of the metal under study is manifested by a plateau in the temperature versus time function for the containing metal surface. The time integral of the power absorbed by the specimen during melting yields the heat of fusion. Measurements on several tantalum-niobium-tantalum specimens yield a value of 31.5 kJ · mor^–1 for the heat of fusion of niobium, with an estimated maximum inaccuracy of ± 5%.     

A dynamic technique for measuring surface tension at high temperatures in a microgravity environment

The feasibility of a dynamic technique for measuring surface tension of liquid metals at high temperatures in a microgravity environment is considered. The basic method involves heating a tubular specimen resistively from ambient temperature through its melting point in about l s by passing an electrical current pulse through it, while simultaneously recording the pertinent experimental quantities. Static equilibrium for the molten specimen may be achieved (at least for a short time) in a microgravity environment by splitting the current after it passes through the specimen tube and returning a fraction along the tube axis and the remaining fraction outside the specimen. Adjustments to the current split enable a balance between the magnetic and surface tension forces acting on the specimen. Values for surface tension are determined from measurements of the equilibrium dimensions of the molten specimen tube, and the magnitudes of the currents. Preliminary rapid melting experiments, performed during microgravity simulations with NASA's KC-135 aircraft, yield a value for the surface tension of copper at its melting point which is in reasonable agreement with literature data.Paper presented at the First Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, June 20–21, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.Formerly National Bureau of Standards