CONSTRUCTION AND CALIBRATION OF LOW TEMPERA TURE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

Comprehensive efiort has been ensued in the construction and calibration of thennal conductivity measurement apparatus implementing the latest developed transient plane source eIPS) teclmique. The teclmique is also used to probe some critical physical phenomenon, such as the el~1anCement of thennal conductivity of high-Tc superconductors in the snperconducting state. A " resistive element ", th~ TPSelement, is lIsed both as heat source and as temperature sensor. Measurements on filsed quartz as a standard sample were perfom1ed for calibration purpose and to demonstrate that this experimental setup using this technique can be used down to liquid nitrogen temperature. A simple low temperature alTangement was iru;talled and used with vacuum system containing rotary pump for vacuum purposes. The results of our data are within an error of 2% found in agreement with the standard curve in the literature. Then a carbon steel sample and a sintered superconductor, sample were studied for the thennal transport properties.