Construction and Characterization of Mini-ruthenium–Carbon Eutectic Cells for Industrial Use

Abstract

High-temperature eutectic fixed points have proved to be convenient tools for temperature scale dissemination and thermometer calibrations/checks at temperatures above \(1100\,^{\circ }\text {C}\). In order to investigate the feasibility of metal-carbon eutectic cells in industrial applications as a means for assessing the traceability of non-contact thermometers, a batch of cells was constructed at LNE-Cnam, NPL, and TUBITAK UME. Compared to the usual dimensions of high-temperature fixed point cells (45 mm in length \(\times \) 24 mm in diameter), a new cell design was created to fit with industrial applications. TUBITAK UME constructed and characterized five ruthenium–carbon (Ru–C) eutectic cells of dimensions 24 mm in length \(\times \) 24 mm in diameter. One of these cells has been selected and characterized at CEA premises. Ru–C eutectic cells have been evaluated in terms of short-term repeatability, reproducibility, furnace effect, sharp temperature ramps, and the effect of cell location. Measurements at TUBITAK UME have been performed with a transfer standard pyrometer calibrated at the copper point and a BB3500pg high-temperature blackbody furnace was used for construction and measurement. For the measurements at CEA, a Land Standard—HIMERT S1 radiation thermometer and a VITI induction furnace were used. In this article results of the measurements at TUBITAK UME and CEA will be presented. The possible use of these mini-eutectic cells as industrial temperature standards will be discussed.