Thermal Transport Facilities

The TTPUC offers several techniques for the measurement of thermal transport properties numerous classes of materials over a wide temperature range. In addition, electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient are measured up to 1000°C.

All instruments have been used in the study of factors affecting the thermal transport properties of materials.

Flash Thermal Diffusivity System:

• Flash thermal diffusivity systems provide for studies at a wide range of test conditions. The three systems are a multiple-station laser flash system, a xenon flash system, and an IR-camera-based diffusivity mapping system.

Multiple-Station Laser Flash Diffusivity System:

• Temperature range: cryogenic to 2500°C
• Bulk and layer sample measurements
• Vacuum or inert atmospheres
• Six samples per run measurement capability
• Thermal contact resistance between two layers
• Finite pulse-width and heat-loss corrections

Xenon Flash Diffusivity System:

• Optimized for rapid room-temperature thermal diffusivity measurements
• Measures bulk and layer samples
• Accepts a wide range of specimen sizes and shapes

Hot Disk System:

• This technique measures thermal conductivity. The hot disk sensor is usually sandwiched between two pieces of sample during measurement. The sensor consists of an electrical conductor in the shape of a double spiral laminated between two thin sheets of insulating material (Kapton or mica). The sensor is used both as a heat source and as a dynamic temperature sensor.

LaserPIT System:

• This technique measures in-plane thermal diffusivity of a wide range of materials, including CVD diamond, metals, ceramics, glasses, plastics and thin film coatings on a substrate. Typical sample size is 30 mm long, 2.5 to 5.0 mm wide, and 3-500 μm thick. Measurements are made at room temperature.
  

Seebeck Coefficient and Electrical Resistivity System:

• This technique measures Seebeck coefficient (thermopower) and electrical resistivity of bulk and thin films from room temperature to 800°C. For bulk samples, typical samples are 3 mm x 3 mm x 15 mm. Thin film samples should be on insulating substrates, and the substrate needs to be at least 1 mm thick and 3 mm wide.