Purdue Research Foundation

Theta Industries, Inc.

Raymond E Taylor

Weldon E Vaughn

Hans Groot

An apparatus for use in determining a thermal characteristic of a specimen includes first and second chucks for engaging two regions of the specimen, a first chuck mounting mechanism for supporting the first chuck in relatively fixed orientation, and a second chuck mounting mechanism. The second chuck mounting mechanism supports the second chuck in relatively movable orientation relative to the first chuck to permit variations in the spacing between the first and second chucks occasioned by thermal variations in the specimen. A base supports the first and second chuck mounting mechanisms. A laser is provided for heating a third region of the specimen lying between the two regions to a different temperature than the two regions. An infrared detector is provided for detecting radiation emitted from the third region. The base, the first chuck mounting mechanism, the first chuck, and the second chuck together comprise a fluid circuit for circulating a fluid through the base, the first chuck mounting mechanism, the first chuck and the second chuck.

Apparatus for use in determining a thermal characteristic of a specimen

An improved electric tube furnace is described in which a compressible leaf-spring attachment between the heating element tube and at least one of its supporting electric terminals compensates for linear thermal expansion of the tube without restricting access to the interior of the tube. The use of such furnace in an evacuated atmosphere for high temperature thermal diffusivity measurements is shown.

Growing community of inventors

West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Raymond E Taylor