FP6 priority
1.1.3   Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, Knowledge-based Multifunctional Materials and New Production Processes and Devices
Title of the proposal

Development and application of transient methods for measuring of thermophysical properties in technology

Institute
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics
Dubravska cesta 9, 842 28 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
www.fu.sav.sk
Contact
Name:
Dr Ludovit KUBICAR
Phone:
+421 2 5941 0576
E-mail:
fyzikubo@savba.sk


Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Optimisation of production technology to obtain required bulk property or surface property is the prerequisite of new functionalities and improved performance of the knowledge-based multifunctional materials. Here, testing methods play a dominant role especially methods that are related to thermodynamic. Recently a new, highly innovative group of testing methods known as transient methods started to be involved in laboratories and production lines. Staff of the Thermophysical Laboratory IP SAS has excellent experience in developing the theory and the instruments based on transient methods and in the application of them in technology. The methods are based on the analysis of the dynamic temperature field generated by an appropriate heat source. The main advantages of these methods are that they may determine specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity within a single measurement, the measurements can be realized in isothermal or non-isothermal regime in vacuum or in any atmosphere and the specimen setup can be designed according size of in-homogeneities to obtain reliable data. Optimisation of the processes like casting, sintering, polymerisation, CVD technique, plasma spraying, heat treatment, etc. or material functionality like phase transition, surface adsorption/readsorption, structural relaxation, etc. can be investigated in detail using a combination of isotherms and non-isotherms and various atmospheres. Porous materials, foams, cellular structures or compact composites are just suitable subject for study using these techniques. The goal of the proposed activity is the development of a series of highly innovative methods and instruments that cover simple testing as well as highly sophisticated thermophysical analysis requirements. Collaborative activity with research groups, SME’s and industry keeps advance that the Europe has gained in past in transient techniques.


Recent international cooperation of the research team

NPL Teddington, IMGC Torino, PTB Braunschweig, Chalmers University of Technology Goteborg, IKE Wurzburg, University of Kuopio, University of California Santa Barbara, Brno University of Technology, Charles University of Hradec Kralove


Proposer´s relevant publications related to the research subject

- L. Kubicar: in Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry, Pulse method of measuring basic thermophysical parameters, Elsevier Amsterdam, Oxford, New York, Tokyo 1990, pp. 340
- Kubicar L, Bohac V, 1999 “Review of several dynamic methods of measuring thermophysical parameters” in Proc. of 24th Int. Conf on Thermal Conductivity / 12th Int. Thermal Expansion Symposium October 26 – 29 1997 Eds P S Gaal and D E Apostolescu, Lancaster: Technomic Publishing Company, pp 135 – 149.
- Ludovit Kubicar, Vlastimil Bohac, Viliam Vretenar: Application of the transient methods for measuring thermophysical properties in technology, Proceedings of 10th International Symposium: Processing and Fabrication of Advance Materials, Materials Solutions 2001, Indianapolis November 5 – 8, 2001, printed in February 2002