6 Sample Carousel LFTD is used in the study of microstructural factors affecting the thermal transport properties of materials. A small planar specimen is placed in an evacuated tube furnace and oriented with its flat surfaces perpendicular to the furnace axis. Users should contact TPUC staff to discuss required specimen size. The intensity of the beam is controlled by varying the laser power supply and use of attenuating filters. The thermal diffusivity is determined from a numerical analysis of the IR detector output.
Users typically learn the menu-driven computer software in less than one working day.
Thermal conductivity is often a property of great interest in the development of high-performance materials. However, thermal conductivity measurements at high temperatures are difficult and time consuming, and they require relatively large specimens. Thermal conductivity may be calculated from measurements of thermal diffusivity, specific heat, and bulk density. The LFTD technique has been used extensively in the study of factors affecting the properties of materials, such as processing conditions, composition, heat treatments, sintering aids and dopants, composite structure, grain size, and porosity. The technique has been applied to a wide range of materials including glasses, plastics, metals, ceramics, composites, crystals, and foams.