The TPS sensor designed for solids, pastes, and powders is comprised of a double-spiral of nickel encapsulated between layers of insulation. Standard operation of this sensor (Two-Sided) is sandwiched between two pieces of the same sample, with expanded use to single-sided sensor, which only requires one piece of sample (Single-Sided). The proprietary Thermtest TPS calculation model measures the contact resistance between sensor and sample, as well as the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, volumetric specific heat and thermal effusivity of the sample.
The THW sensor designed for liquids, as well as pastes and small particle powders consists of a replaceable thin heating wire (40 mm in length) secured to specially designed sensor and sample cell which allows back pressurizing liquids to measure thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and volumetric specific heat past boiling temperatures. Measurements are done at short test times (1 second) to limit convective effects on samples with a wide range of viscosities.
Methods | Transient Plane Source (TPS) | Transient Hot Wire (THW) |
Materials | Solids, Pastes, and Powders | Liquids, Pastes, and Powders |
Testing Modules | 3D: Bulk, Anisotropic, Slab | 1D: Standard, Thin-films General: Specific Heat | Bulk |
Thermal Conductivity | 0.005 to 1800 W/m•K | 0.01 to 2 W/m•K |
Sample Size* | 5 x 5 mm to unlimited | 20 mL |
Sample Thickness* | 0.01 mm to unlimited | N/A |
Additional Properties | Thermal Diffusivity | Specific Heat |Thermal Effusivity | Thermal Diffusivity | Specific Heat |
Sensor Contact Resistance | Measured | N/A |
Temperature Platform (TP) | 0 to 300 °C -160 °C | -50 °C | 0 to 300 °C |
10 to 200 °C | -15/0 to 200 °C 0 to 300 °C | -45 to 300 °C | -160 to 300 °C |
Extended Temperature Range | -160 to 1000 °C | N/A |
Test Time (seconds) | 0.25 to 1280 seconds | 1 second |
Data-Points (points / second) | Up to 600 points / second | 400 points / second |
Thermal Conductivity Accuracy | 5% | 2% |
Repeatability | 1% | 1% |
Sample Configuration | Symmetric (Two-Sided) | Asymmetric (Single-Sided) | N/A |
Standard | ISO 22007-2:2015 | ASTM D7896-19 |
*Based on testing module used.