LONG-TERM STABILITY OF Co-C AND Pd-C EUTECTIC FIXED POINTS FOR THERMOCOUPLES CALIBRATION

Eutectic fixed points are close to becoming a reference for high temperatures calibration, especially as the new International Temperature Scale (ITS) approach to issue after the re-definition of the Kelvin unit. In this work the long-term stability of Co-C and Pd-C eutectic fixed points were investigated using NIS-Egypt facilities. The eutectic points were measured using Pt/Pd thermocouple. The total exposure to the Co-C and Pd-C melting temperature was about 200 h for the fixed-point cell and 150 h for the Pt/Pd thermocouple. The emfs of the thermocouple at the melting point were observed to drift by about 0.25 °C. Realization uncertainties were estimated to be ~ 0.446 ◦C for Co-C and ~0.742 for Pd-C (k = 2). Results show that Co-C and Pd-C eutectic cells can exhibit long term stability.

Overview of measurements capabilities in radiation thermometry at CEM (Spain)

CEM (Spanish National Institute of Metrology) is responsible for the maintenance and dissemination of the temperature national standards. Nowadays, the CEM Radiation Thermometry Laboratory disseminates and maintains the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) from the Ag fixed point (961.78 °C) to 2800 °C, using Ag or Cu fixed points as reference and standard radiation thermometers (RTs) working at a wavelength of 650 nm. CEM is also able to provide traceability to the new definition of the kelvin and to perform measurements of thermodynamic temperature from 400°C to 2800°C with different RTs (wavelengths of 650 nm, 900 nm and 1550 nm) using absolute and relative primary radiation thermometry. In addition the Radiation Thermometry laboratory performs calibration of RTs working in the usual infrared ranges (1 μm and 10 μm) from – 40°C to 1600°C.

Low uncertainty Boltzmann constant determinations and the kelvin redefinition

At its 25th meeting, the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) approved Resolution 1 ‘On the future revision of the International System of Units, the SI’, which sets the path towards redefinition of four base units at the next CGPM in 2018. This constitutes a decisive advance towards the formal adoption of the new SI and its implementation. Kilogram, ampere, kelvin and mole will be defined in terms of fixed numerical values of the Planck constant, elementary charge, Boltzmann constant and Avogadro constant, respectively. The effect of the new definition of the kelvin referenced to the value of the Boltzmann constant k is that the kelvin is equal to the change of thermodynamic temperature T that results in a change of thermal energy kT by 1.380 65×10 −23 J. A value of the Boltzmann constant suitable for defining the kelvin is determined by fundamentally different primary thermometers such as acoustic gas thermometers, dielectric constant gas thermometers, noise thermometers and the Doppler broadening technique. Progress to date of the measurements and further perspectives are reported. Necessary conditions to be met before proceeding with changing the definition are given. The consequences of the new definition of the kelvin on temperature measurement are briefly outlined.