Thermal conductivity of Torlon between 4.2 and 300 K

Torlon is an organic polymer (polyamide-imide) which exhibits room temperature good mechanical and thermal properties and high chemical resistance. The thermal conductivity of Torlon 4203 was measured in the range of temperature 4.2-300 K. These data complete existing measurement in the temperature range 0.1-5 K. The thermal conductivity shows a linear behavior between 30 K and 250 K and a plateau, typical of many amorphous materials, around 7 K.     

Thermal characteristics of conduction cooled 600 kJ HTS SMES system

A 600 kJ HTS SMES is developed and tested in Korea. The HTS SMES consists of 22 double pancake coils wound on each aluminum alloy bobbin. It is cooled by two GM cryocoolers down to around 6 K and current is charged through HTS current leads up to 275 A. Beside the heat penetration from room temperature structures, heat generation in the HTS coil is inevitable because of the joint resistances and the intrinsic property of the HTS tape such as index loss. Moreover, during the charging and discharging operation, AC loss of the HTS conductor and eddy current loss in the coil bobbin and metallic structures are generated. Therefore, the heat generation should be effectively removed by the cryocooler to ensure the stable operation of the coil. In the HTS SMES, aluminum alloy conduction plates outside the each coil are used as thermal paths to the cryocoolers. This paper describes the thermal characteristics of the HTS SMES for the charging and discharge operation.     

Double electrodeposition and heat treatment process for the fabrication of superconducting oxides on the intensified {1 1 3} <1 2 1> Ag substrate

The Tl-1223 coated conductor (Tl_0.8Pb_0.2Bi_0.2Sr_1.8Ba_0.2Ca_2.2Cu₃O_δ) was synthesized by using electrodeposition on the intensified {1 1 3} <1 2 1> Ag substrate applying the new method of the repeating electrodeposition/heat treatment. The films were fabricated conducting the first electrodeposition and then heat treatment, after that the second electrodeposition on the first electrodeposition/heat treatment coated conductors. The second electrodeposition on the first electrodeposition/heat treatment/the first electrodeposition/heat treatment coated conductor showed the better quality of the Tl-1223 phases than that of the first electrodeposition/heat treatment coated conductor, showing more compact and dense grains on the films. The thin Tl-1223 films caused by the thinning process were discussed by considering the properties of Tl and the epitaxial growth aspects. The purer Tl-1223 grains obtained at the double electrodeposition/heat treatment are due to the growth from Tl-1223 grains already synthesized during the first electrodeposition/heat treatment, facilitating the epitaxial growth easier than that of the Ag substrate. The second electrodeposition process was successfully performed, obtaining 1.9 × 10⁵ A/cm² of J_c at 0 T at 10 K.     

Output properties of fiber optic sensor for micro-displacement measurement at 77 K and 4.2 K

Fiber optic sensors for micro-displacement measurement are applied to displacement measurement of superconductors. Output characteristics of a fiber optic sensor were measured at 77 K and 4.2 K. The results show that the linearity between output voltage ratio and displacement is good both at 77 K and at 4.2 K, and the sensitivity at 77 K is higher than that at 4.2 K.     

The specific heat and thermal conductivity of Eccosorb CR-124 between 800 mK and 6 K

Eccosorb CR-124 is a castable iron-loaded epoxy resin with excellent absorption properties for electromagnetic waves in the GHz range. It is commonly used in low temperature instruments to absorb thermal radiation. The specific heat c(T) of Eccosorb CR-124 was measured between 800 mK and 6 K with the heat pulse method. The results were fitted to the function , with T being the temperature in Kelvin. In addition, the thermal diffusivity D(T) of Eccosorb CR-124 was determined. At a temperature of 2.3 K, a peak is observed in D(T). Consequently, the thermal conductivity λ(T) of Eccosorb CR-124 features two distinct regimes. Below 2.3 K, it fits the function . Above 2.3 K, it fits the function .     

Thermal conductivity of ME771 glass-epoxy laminate from millikelvin temperatures to 4 K

Permaglas ME771 is a glass-epoxy laminate which is suitable for use at cryogenic temperatures. We have measured the thermal conductivity of a sample of this material between 64 mK and 4.2 K in the direction parallel to the reinforcing fibres, enabling us to make a comparison with the better known material G-10CR. The thermal conductivity follows the form that would be expected for such a material, and is similar to that of G-10CR, which has a similar (room temperature) tensile strength. We comment on some confusion that has arisen over the difference between G-10CR, a material specifically produced for cryogenic use, and G-10, the more common equivalent.     

20-50 K and 40-80 K pulse tube coolers: Two candidates for a low temperature cooling chain

Following its important cryogenics heritage for the European Space industry for both Ariane launcher and Orbital programs, Air Liquide - Advanced Technology Division (AL/DTA) is proposing different pulse tube cryocoolers all over the temperature range to answer the needs of earth observation and scientific missions.This paper presents recent performance improvement of the large heat lift 40-80 K pulse tube cooler (LPTC). Four units have been manufactured and tested. Three units are dedicated to lifetime testing in the framework of French Military Space Program (under CNES contract) and Meteosat Third Generation program (ESA contract). The batch performances are described and the product maturity is discussed in this paper.To lower the temperature range and to complete our cryogenic chain, we developed in partnership with CEA/INAC/SBT, a heat intercepted 20-50 K pulse tube cryocooler. This cooler has been developed in the framework of an ESA contract (ESA/ESTEC No 20497/0/NL/PA-20-50 K pulse tube cooler). A development phase has been performed to test and optimize different cold head architectures to reach the 300 mW@20 K specification. A no-load temperature of 12.5 K has been demonstrated on breadboard model. The outputs of the trade-off, the resulting design and the performances are described.In complement to the dilution cooler similar to the one developed for the PLANCK mission, those two pulse tube coolers are potential candidates for a very low temperature cooling chain. By optimizing the capabilities of the 20 K stage for low temperature operation (no-load in the range of 8 K) the coupling of the three independent stages becomes possible.     

Synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of La1−xCdxFeO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) orthoferrites

Nanocrystalline La_1−xCd_xFeO₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) solid solutions have been synthesized by a single-step solution combustion method at a relatively low temperature of 400 °C. The combustion-synthesized solid solutions were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and magnetic measurements. The crystal structure examined by XRD indicates that the samples were single-phase, and crystallize in an orthorhombic (space group, Pbnm no. 62) structure. The parent and doped compounds showed canted antiferromagnetic behavior associated with an increase in magnetic moment with Cd doping. The changes in magnetic properties of the materials are correlated to the changes in structural features resulting from the Rietveld structural refinement of the materials.     

Thermal stability and transport studies of (100 − 2x)TeO2-xAg2O-xWO3 (7.5 ≤ x ≤ 30) glass system

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) and direct current (DC) conductivity studies have been carried out on (100 − 2x)TeO₂-xAg₂O-xWO₃ (7.5 ≤ x ≤ 30) glass system. The IR studies show that the structure of glass network consists of [TeO₄], [TeO₃]/[TeO₃₊₁], [WO₄] units. Thermal properties such as the glass transition (T_g), onset crystallization (T_o), thermal stability (ΔT), glass transition width (ΔT_g), heat capacities in the glassy and liquid state (C_pg and C_pl), heat capacity change (ΔC_p) and ratios C_pl/C_pg of the glass systems were calculated. The highest thermal stability (237 °C) obtained in 55TeO₂-22.5Ag₂O-22.5WO₃ glass suggests that this new glass may be a potentially useful candidate material host for rare earth doped optical fibers. The DC conductivity of glasses was measured in temperature region 27-260 °C, the activation energy (E_act) values varied from 1.393 to 0.272 eV and for the temperature interval 170-260 °C, the values of conductivity (σ) of glasses varied from 8.79 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.47 × 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹.     

Thermal design and analysis of a multi-stage 30 K radiative cooling system for EPIC

The Experimental Probe of Inflationary Cosmology (EPIC) is an implementation of the NASA Einstein Inflation Probe mission, to answer questions about the physics of Inflation in the early Universe by measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The mission relies on a passive cooling system to cool the enclosure of a telescope to 30 K; a cryocooler then cools this enclosure to 18 K and the telescope to 4 K. Subsequently, an Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator further cools a large Focal Plane to ∼100 mK. For this mission, the telescope has an aperture of 1.4 m, and the spacecraft’s symmetry axis is oriented ∼45° relative to the direction of the sun. The spacecraft will be spun at ∼0.5 rpm around this axis, which then precesses on the sky at 1 rph. The passive system must both supply the necessary cooling power for the cryocooler and meet demanding temperature stability requirements. We describe the thermal design of a passive cooling system consisting of four V-groove radiators for shielding of solar radiation and cooling the telescope to 30 K. The design realizes loads of 20 and 68 mW at the 4 K and 18 K stages on the cooler, respectively. A lower cost option for reaching 40 K with three V-groove radiators is also described. The analysis includes radiation coupling between stages of the radiators and sunshields, and parasitic conduction in the bipod support, harnesses, and ADR leads. Dynamic effects are also estimated, including the very small variations in temperature due to the scan motion of the spacecraft.     

How to find magneto-resistance of TVO temperature sensors in the range 0.1-10 K

An empirical method is presented to calculate magneto-resistance (MR) and a corresponding temperature shift of the well known TVO temperature sensors in the ranges from 0.1 K to approximately 10 K and up to 8 T. Features of MR, depending on the temperature and magnetic field, are discussed. The maximum positive MR-values, depending on the magnetic field, correspond to the temperature of T ≈ 0.67 K: 12.5% at 8 T. At the fixed magnetic field the zero MR-value is reached both by increasing or decreasing the temperatures with respect to 0.67 K. For example, at the magnetic field of 4 T, the zero MR-value appears at T ≈ 0.2 K and T ≈ 6 K. A constant moderate negative relative MR of 19%, which does not depend on the magnetic field from 2 to 8 T, is revealed at T ≈ 0.1 K. In the ranges from 1.5 to 4.4 K and from 0 to 9 T, in particular, the temperature shift has a linear dependence on B-value and inverse proportionality on the dimensionless sensitivity S. A brief explanation of the behavior of TVO sensors under magnetic fields is presented as well.     

Synthesis, low-temperature sintering and the dielectric properties of the ZnO-(1 − x)TiO2-xSnO2 (x = 0.04-0.2)

ZnO-(1 − x)TiO₂-xSnO₂ (x = 0.04-0.2) ceramics were prepared by conventional mixed-oxide method combined with a chemical processing. Fine particle powders were prepared by chemical processing to activate the formation of compound and to improve the sinterability. One wt.% of V₂O₅ and B₂O₃ with the mole ratios of 3:1 were used to lower the sintering temperature of ceramics. The effect of Sn content on phase structure and dielectric properties were investigated. The results show that the substituting Sn for Ti accelerates the hexagonal phase transition to cubic phase, and an inverse spinel structure Zn₂(Ti_1−xSn_x)O₄ solid solution forms. The best dielectric properties obtained at x = 0.12. The ZnO-0.88TiO₂-0.12SnO₂ ceramics sintered at 900 °C exhibit a good dielectric property: ?_r = 29 and tan δ = 9.86 × 10⁻⁵. Due to their good dielectric properties, low firing characteristics, ZnO-(1 − x)TiO₂-xSnO₂ (x = 0.04-0.2) can serve as the promising microwave dielectric capacitor.     

Simple and inexpensive technique for measuring the transition temperature of superconducting thick films from 60 to 300 K using liquid nitrogen and subcooled liquid oxygen

This paper describes a simple and low-cost experimental setup intended for AC susceptibility measurements between 60 and 300 K. A mutual inductance bridge for measuring the transition temperature of high-T_c superconductor thick films was constructed. The device is based on using liquid nitrogen and subcooled liquid oxygen; it allows temperatures down to 60 K to be achieved. Experimental details are described and illustrative measurements on high-T_c superconductor thick films are included.     

Gel- to -crystallite conversion technique for the syntheses of M-β/β″-alumina (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Ca or Eu)

Various alkali and alkaline earths hydroxides are reacted with hydrated alumina gel Al₂O₃·nH₂O (80 < n < 120) in hydrophilic organic solvents to yield precursor(s) with metal cation entrapped in the matrix, with the general formula M_yAlO_y(OH)_3−y (where M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Ca and Eu). Depending on the cation, the precursor crystallizes as metal-inserted gibbsite or boehmite structure. The nature of the precursor depends on the size of the cation, and its concentration, solvent used, solvent/water ratio, etc. These precursors yield M-β/β″-alumina phase on calcination at elevated temperatures in the case of sodium, potassium and rubidium. In the case of lithium, LiAl₅O₈ (spinel) phase is obtained. While calcium and europium give rise to calcium hexaaluminate and EuAlO₃ (perovskite), respectively, on calcination. The need of metal ion-inserted-γ-alumina phase is emphasized in obtaining M-β/β″-alumina phase.     

Synthesis and characterization of spinel Co3O4 octahedra enclosed by the {1 1 1} facets

Spinel Co₃O₄ octahedra synthesized by a facile redox-precipitation method were investigated for the complete oxidation of methane. XRD analysis showed that the spinel structural Co₃O₄ octahedra had a relatively strong (1 1 1) diffraction peak as compared with that of the irregular shaped Co₃O₄ nanoparticles prepared by a conventional precipitation method. The results of methane combustion test demonstrated that the Co₃O₄ octahedra had no catalytic activity at 300-500 °C, while the Co₃O₄ irregular nanoparticles were highly active at the same reaction conditions. HRTEM studies revealed that the Co₃O₄ octahedra were predominantly exposed by the low Miller-index {1 1 1} facets with the lowest surface energy, and the Co₃O₄ irregular nanoparticles were exposed by various crystal facets. The results exhibited that the {1 1 1} facets with the low surface energy of the Co₃O₄ octahedra resulted in the inert catalytic activity in the methane oxidation reaction.     

Thermal conductivity measurement of the epoxies and composite material for low temperature superconducting magnet design

The thermal conductivities of solid materials were measured by a G-M cryo-cooler based apparatus in the temperature range of 2.6–21.0 K. The performance of this apparatus was verified by measuring the thermal conductivity of 304-stainless steel, and good reproducibility as well as accuracy was shown when compared with the certified values. The thermal conductivities of EC1017 and Stycast2850FT and a composite material were measured. Similar behavior to amorphous materials was shown for EC1017 and Stycast2850FT in that there was an apparent plateau, which could be ascribed to a very lower crystallinity of epoxy. An equivalent model was proposed to predict the thermal conductivity of the composite material.     

Synthesis, structure refinement at 296 K and physico-chemical characterizations of KMnHP3O10

Potassium manganese(III) monohydrogentriphosphate KMnHP₃O₁₀ was synthesized by flux method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, crystallizes in the monoclinic system with centric space group C2/c. The parameters of the unit cell are a = 12.104(1), b = 8.287(1). c = 9.150(1) Å, β = 110.97(1)° and Z = 4. The structure was solved at 296 K using 893 independent reflections and refined until R(F) = 0.022; wR(F²) = 0.045. The atomic arrangement of the title compound consists of MnO₆ octahedra linked by hydrogentriphosphate anions to form a three-dimensional framework containing tunnels parallel to the c-axis where the K⁺ cations are inserted. The structure of KMnHP₃O₁₀ contains a single Mn site which is surrounded by typical Jahn-Teller [2 + 2 + 2] distorted octahedron. The title material has been also characterized by different physico-chemical techniques: powder X-ray diffraction, IR, NMR and CI spectroscopies and DTA-TGA-DSC thermal analysis.     

Molecular cryosorption properties of porous copper, anodised aluminium and charcoal at temperatures between 10 and 20 K

New types of anodised aluminium, porous copper and charcoal-based materials are being developed as cryosorbing materials and have been studied in collaboration with a number of research institutes. The major aim was to find a suitable cryosorber with a working temperature in the range between 5 and 20 K that could be used in the LHC vacuum chamber inside the superconducting magnets at a temperature of 4.5 K and higher. The design of the experimental set-up, the results of cryosorption capacity measurements for porous copper, anodised aluminium and charcoal-based materials are described in this paper.     

Magnetic and transport properties of La0.3Ca0.7Mn0.9T0.1O3 (T = Cr, Fe, and W)

We have carried out structural, magnetic and magneto transport measurements of the electron-doped manganite La_0.3Ca_0.7MnO₃ substituted with 10% of Cr, Fe and W on the Mn site. The substitution by Cr, Fe and W suppresses the charge order transition present at 260 K in the parent compound. All the samples show a semiconducting behavior. Whereas the parent compound does not show any magneto resistance (MR) even in a field of 14 T, a maximum MR of 6% in 5 T at 25 K is observed for the Cr substituted sample that is attributed to a spin-cluster glass like states induced by Cr. The Fe and W substituted samples showed a MR of 1.5 and 3%, respectively which may be attributed to a smaller number of FM domains/spin-clusters and to an increase in anti-ferromagnetic interaction.     

Viscoplastic behavior of a FeCrAl alloy for high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) sealing applications between 700 °C and 900 °C

High temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) is one of the most promising technologies for the industrial production of hydrogen. However one of the remaining problems lies in sealing at high temperature. The reference solution is based on glass seals which presents several drawbacks. That explains why metallic seals are under development. The expected seal will be submitted to creep under low stresses between 700 °C and 900 °C, possibly involving complex loading and thermal history. The candidate material investigated in this work is a FeCrAl (OC404, Sandvik) supplied as a 0.3 mm thick sheet. The ability of this material to develop a protective layer of alumina was studied first, as well as grain size growth during thermal ageing. Creep and tensile tests were performed between 700 °C and 900 °C to determine its mechanical properties. This database was used to propose and identify an elasto-viscoplastic behavior for the material. Creep was described by the Sellars-Tegart law. This law was then used to simulate and predict creep indentation tests performed in the same range of temperatures.