Determination of Al2O3 Powder Thermal Conductivity Using DSC at NIS-Egypt

Abstract

The mission of the thermal metrology laboratory is to maintain, disseminate, develop and realize the International Temperature Scale 1990 (ITS-90). One of the services that the laboratory has introduced is the routine calibration to all industrial sectors that covers almost all fields inside and outside Egypt. This paper explains how to use Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) to determine the thermal conductivity of unknown powders. The paper is based on the ability to determine the thermal conductivity (k) of powders from the melting peak of the reference metal. This technique assists for the first time to establish a new activity at the National Institute for Standardization to test the thermal conductivity of powders, which had been requested by many clients. Experiments were carried out using alumina powder Al₂O₃ and metal reference beads of Sn and Zn which have diameter ranges from 1.9 mm up to 4.12 mm in an atmosphere of nitrogen during Sn and Zn melting.  The results show good performance. The results showed confidence that will enable to do more studies at NIS to see if this technology can be applied to a wider spectrum of materials.