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Effect of Annealing on Drift in Type S Thermocouples Below \(900\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\)

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Abstract

Type R and Type S platinum/platinum–rhodium thermocouples are amongst the most widely used high-temperature thermocouples, both for process measurement and as reference thermocouples. To achieve the lowest practical uncertainties, below \(1\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\), the thermocouples must be in a well-defined thermoelectric state. There are two annealing procedures in common use that leave the thermocouples in different states, leading to a potential ambiguity and uncertainty. This paper reports on experiments with Type S thermocouples clearly exposing the different drift characteristics for the two different annealed states. Thermocouples used above \(800\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) show the least drift when annealed at \(1100\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) and then passively quenched to room temperature. If used at lower temperatures, they exhibit drift, at temperatures as low as \(170\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\), with the drift peaking at \(0.3\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) to \(0.4\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) around \(300\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) to \(600 \, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\). Thermocouples used below \(800\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) are best annealed at \(1100\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\), and then again at \(450\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\). In this state, they exhibit practically zero drift for temperatures up to about \(600 \, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\). Advice on calibration procedures to minimise the effects of drift is given.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge the work of Hamish Edgar (MSL) in the construction of the furnaces used in this study and the insightful discussions with Rod White (MSL).

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  1. Measurement Standards Laboratory, PO Box 31310, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand

    E. S. Webster

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  1. E. S. Webster
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Webster, E.S. Effect of Annealing on Drift in Type S Thermocouples Below \(900\, ^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) . Int J Thermophys 36, 1909–1924 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-015-1910-7

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