Magazine Article

Precision Cryogenic Dilatometer

TBMG-539

11/01/2005

Abstract
Content

A dilatometer based on a laser interferometer is being developed to measure mechanical creep and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of materials at temperatures ranging from ambient down to 15 K. This cryogenic dilatometer has been designed to minimize systematic errors that limit the best previously available dilatometers. At its prototype stage of development, this cryogenic dilatometer yields a strain measurement error of 35 ppb or 1.7 ppb/K CTE measurement error for a 20-K thermal load, for low-expansion materials in the temperature range from 310 down to 30 K. Planned further design refinements that include a provision for stabilization of the laser and addition of a high-precision sampleholding jig are expected to reduce the measurement error to 5-ppb strain error or 0.3-ppb/K CTE error for a 20-K thermal load.

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Citation
"Precision Cryogenic Dilatometer," Mobility Engineering, November 1, 2005.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Nov 1, 2005
Product Code
TBMG-539
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English