Boris Wilthan

Thermophysical properties of a Ti–44%Al–8%Nb–1%B alloy in the solid and molten states

Abstract The families of titanium aluminide intermetallic alloys have attractive high temperature mechanical properties which make them potential candidate materials for a wide range of applications, particularly in the aeronautic and automobile sectors. The development of appropriate manufacturing techniques is an essential stage in the engineering exploitation of these materials, e.g., Induction Skull Melting is one of the techniques which needs to be optimised for the casting of titanium aluminides. Research is underway to develop a computer model of this process but data are required for the key thermophysical properties. Pulse-heating techniques have been used to measure properties for the Ti–44Al–8Nb–1B system. Rectangular samples have been prepared and are resistively heated as part of a fast capacitor discharge circuit. Time-resolved measurements with sub-μs resolution of currents through the specimen were made with a Pearson probe current monitor using the induction principle. Voltages across the specimen were determined with knife-edge contacts and voltage dividers, and radiance temperatures of the sample were measured with a pyrometer. These measurements allow the calculation of specific heat and dependencies between enthalpy, electrical resistivity and temperature of the alloy up into the liquid phase. Data for thermal diffusivity have been obtained by using the Wiedeman–Franz relation. The results are compared with those obtained using DSC and the four-probe method to measure the temperature dependence of the resistivity.

Experimental observation of extremely weak optical scattering from an interlocking carbon nanotube array.

We experimentally demonstrate a nearly wavelength-independent optical reflection from an extremely rough carbon nanotube sample. The sample is made of a vertically aligned nanotube array, is a super dark material, and exhibits a near-perfect blackbody emission at T=450 K-600 K. No other material exhibits such optical properties, i.e., ultralow reflectance accompanied by a lack of wavelength scaling behavior. This observation is a result of the lowest ever measured reflectance (R=0.0003) of the sample over a broad infrared wavelength of 3 μm < λ < 13 μm. This discovery may be attributed to the unique interlocking surface of the nanotube array, consisting of both a global, large scale and a short-range randomness.

A Comparison of Optical Properties between High Density and Low Density Sintered PTFE

Materials with similar chemical compositions often exhibit different optical properties due to their structural composition. PTFE is widely used in many applications for both its mechanical and optical properties. Low density sintered PTFE has optical properties that make it desirable for use as a white diffuser in applications such as remote sensing. The contrast between the commonly available high density material and the low density material may be useful for those interested in optical modeling of scattered light. Additionally, some applications may find high density PTFE suitable for some optical applications. This paper describes measurements of BRDF, 8º/hemispherical reflectance, and directional hemispherical transmittance for both high density (HD) and low density (LD) sintered PTFE.

Thermophysical properties of the Ni-based alloy Nimonic 80A up to 2400 K

Nimonic 80A is a nickel-chromium alloy which is strengthened by additions of titanium and aluminium. The alloy is used for high temperature, high strength applications. Wire shaped Nimonic 80A samples are resistively volume heated as part of a fast capacitor discharge circuit. Time resolved measurements with sub-μs resolution of current through the specimen are performed with a Pearson probe, voltage drop across the specimen is measured with knife-edge contacts and ohmic voltage dividers and the radiance temperature of the sample with a pyrometer. These measurements allow to determine heat of fusion as well as heat capacity and electrical resistivity at initial geometry of Nimonic 80A as a function of temperature in the solid and in the liquid phase up to 2400 K.

Extension of the NIST spectral responsivity scale to the infrared using improved-NEP pyroelectric detectors

Routine NIST spectral responsivity calibrations are needed for the infrared range. Low-NEP pyroelectric radiometers have been developed for traditional monochromator applications to extend the responsivity scale to the infrared. After NEP tests, the best pyroelectric detectors were converted to transfer-standard radiometers. The relative spectral responsivities were determined from spectral reflectance measurements of the organic black detector coatings. The absolute tie points were measured against a domed pyroelectric radiometer standard and a sphere-input extended-InGaAs transfer-standard radiometer. The infrared spectral power responsivity scale has been extended for the 2 µm to 14 µm wavelength range. A single-grating monochromator has been adapted to the calibration facility and used to characterize and calibrate infrared detectors.

Experimental investigation of the normal spectral emissivity and other thermophysical properties of pulse-heated Ni-Ti and Au-Ni alloys into the liquid phase

Abstract In a previous paper it was shown that the normal spectral emissivity at 684.5 nm of a binary alloy can be lower than that of the pure constituent components. For the actual probes it was found that the observed values of normal spectral emissivity of the alloys are in between or higher than those of the pure constituent components. Experiments were conducted on the alloy systems Ni-Ti and Au-Ni. Their emissivity as well as electrical resistivity and enthalpy as a function of temperature is presented.

Normal spectral emissivity near 680 nm at melting and in the liquid phase for 18 metallic elements

Optical and thermophysical properties of pure metals at the melting point and in the liquid phase are of general interest for technological applications. This is especially true for those metals that are commonly applied. Many of these elements are used either in their pure form or as alloying components. Due to their widespread use in industry an ongoing need for new and more accurate data exists. Based on an ohmic pulse-heating apparatus, properties of conducting materials can be obtained from temperatures of about 1200 K, at which most metals are in the solid state, up to about 5000 K in the liquid state. To enable a fast and accurate temperature measurement over such a vast range, pyrometric temperature detection based on Plancks radiation law is employed. Furthermore, a microsecond-resolution ellipsometric device with no moving parts, called μs-DOAP (Division-of-Amplitude-Photopolarimeter) as first described by Azzam [1], is applied to measure normal spectral emissivity close to the wavelength of the pyrometer (650 nm). In the present paper, measurements of normal spectral emissivity at 684.5 nm, obtained by means of the above-mentioned pulse-heating technique combined with a μs-DOAP, are summarized for 18 metals, namely cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf-3%Zr), iron (Fe), iridium (Ir), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhenium (Re), silver (Ag), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), vanadium (V) and zirconium (Zr). The results are very important in order to eliminate uncertainties arising from the unknown behavior of emissivity at melting and in the liquid phase when investigating temperature-dependent thermophysical properties.Optical and thermophysical properties of pure metals at the melting point and in the liquid phase are of general interest for technological applications. This is especially true for those metals that are commonly applied. Many of these elements are used either in their pure form or as alloying components. Due to their widespread use in industry an ongoing need for new and more accurate data exists. Based on an ohmic pulse-heating apparatus, properties of conducting materials can be obtained from temperatures of about 1200 K, at which most metals are in the solid state, up to about 5000 K in the liquid state. To enable a fast and accurate temperature measurement over such a vast range, pyrometric temperature detection based on Plancks radiation law is employed. Furthermore, a microsecond-resolution ellipsometric device with no moving parts, called μs-DOAP (Division-of-Amplitude-Photopolarimeter) as first described by Azzam [1], is applied to measure normal spectral emissivity close to the wavelength of th...

Measurements of infrared spectral directional emittance at NIST - A status update

Over the past two decades, the Sensor Science Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed extensive capabilities for the characterization of the infrared optical properties of materials and components. These include the more recent development of infrared spectral emittance (emissivity) measurements by the direct method of radiance comparison to blackbody reference sources over a temperature range of 200 °C to 900 °C over a wavelength range of 2 μm to 20 μm. This paper reports on the recent progress. Initial validation of the measurement methodology was made through comparisons with the indirect method of reflectance measurement on the NIST infrared reference integrating sphere at a limited temperature range up to 200 °C. Subsequently, NIST piloted and participated in an international intercomparison of infrared spectral emittance with the national measurement institutes of France, Germany, Italy and Japan. The overall agreement of the results provides a strong vali...