FLASHLINE ™ 5000
THERMAL PROPERTIES ANALYZER

To request a quote, please fill out our Request for Particulars form.

MODULAR ARCHITECTURE The FL-5000 is perhaps the most flexible system of its kind. It allows the selection of subsystems and options to assemble a configuration that best suits any application. Many of these elements are interchangeable or selectable as an addition at a later date to grow with changing needs. Noteworthy among these is the multiple sample testing option pioneered by Anter. This feature not only produces a 2-6 times increase in productivity, but also makes the optional specific heat capacity measurement reliable. The system has the ability to switch furnaces in minutes. Simple to operate and safe to use, the system is suitable for research and development programs, as well as quality control. It is easy to maintain and very economical to operate in terms of consumables. The laser module is mobile and can be easily located near each furnace in a cluster arrangement. The output of the laser is channeled through a proprietary fiber optic wand to any of the selected furnaces. Pulse delivery through the fiber produces outstanding flux uniformity that greatly improves the data. The method involves uniform irradiation of a small, disc-shaped sample over its front face with a very short pulse of energy. The time-temperature history of the rear face is recorded through high-speed data acquisition from a solid-state optical sensor with very fast thermal response. Thermal diffusivity is determined from the time interval after the flash for the sample's rear face to reach half of its ultimate temperature rise. A unique feature of the system is the full-time pulse mapping and recording capability that allows precise pulse shape and pulse width correction calculations. Standard configuration employs a 200-300µs pulse width. An optional pulse stretching network provides front panel selectable pulse widths between 200 and 1400µs in 4 steps.

Laser pulse source with safety interlocks Operating ranges from -180°C to 200°C, and RT to 1600/ 2000/ 2500/ 2800°C Automated operation and easy to use Rugged, reliable, modular design Exclusive full-range optical pyrometer Round and square shaped samples Fast testing times and high sample throughput Single, dual or six sample (indexed) system Specific Heat Capacity determination Thermal Conductivity measurement Metals, ceramics, carbons, graphite, polymers Meets ASTM E1461

Samples can be 8, 10, or 12mm in diameter and from 1 to 6mm thick. The modular design naturally allows the separation of the instrument section from the control electronics for glove box or hot cell installation. Testing time is only minutes at ambient. Using the thermal conductivity testing mode, the device offers a nearly tenfold time reduction when compared to the much more difficult to perform steady-state measurement procedures.

CONFIGURATION

The system, in its lowest cost form, is a single sample, conventional device. Alternately, it may be configured as a dual or six-sample instrument. (A single sample device can also be upgraded later for multi-sample operation if ordered with a multi-sample furnace.) The entire carousel is heated continuously, keeping the samples at the same temperature for rapid sequential testing. The instrument automatically indexes the carousel and precisely brings each sample into alignment.

The rear surface temperature rise is detected with a high quality InSb detector. Sample temperature is measured with thermocouples adjacent to the sample or with an optical pyrometer, depending on the temperature range. Due to the high thermal uniformity of the furnace, the sample temperature is known to be within ±0.5°C. Extensive temperature programming is provided directly from software with very tight (±0.1°C) resolution.

BASE INSTRUMENT

Consists of remote-controlled Class I Nd: glass laser (apx. 35 joules maximum power), fiber optic laser power delivery wand fully interlocked with cell receptor (furnace, etc.) components, pulse shape sensing fiber optic link, pulse shape mapping circuit, built-in alignment laser, missing sample detector, control computer (current model PC with peripherals), and operating software with basic analysis ( Parker, Degiovanni, and basic Koski methods.)

FURNACES

Each furnace module is complete with its own power supply, temperature control module and all auxiliary submodules (overtemperature controls, safety interlocks, etc.). Also appropriate for each particular temperature range, a thermocouple or pyrometer is supplied. Each furnace is equipped with a quick change window with pneumatic locking.

• Room Temperature Station
• Ultra High Temperature Graphite Furnaces
• Ultra High Temperature Tungsten Furnace
• Kanthal S Furnaces
• High Speed (Quenching) Furnace
• High Pressure Furnace
• Cryogenic Module

SAMPLE HOLDER STRUCTURES

Each structure consists of two parts:

• indexing module - includes control electronics,indexing and positioning actuator, and interface to appropriate furnace modules
• sample support structure - two basic configurations available

AUXILIARY MODULES

• Melt Capsule
• Powder Holder
• Specialty Holders
• Spacer rings

OPTIONAL SOFTWARE

The FL-5000 is supplied standard with an extensive operating and data analysis software package using the Windows™ platform. Additional (advanced) enhancements are available either as add-on modules that will fully integrate with the main program, or as stand-alone post-test-analysis programs.

Specific Heat Capacity determination program (Add on module) Operates the system in a specific sequential mode to gather data alternately from the unknown and the reference samples. Provisions to account for emissivity differences. Requires dual or carousel type installation.

The use of flash technique to determine heat capacity is based on alternately measuring a known (reference) and an unknown (sample) in a quantitative way, and obtaining the results from their differential behavior. To do this, the flash source must remain stable during the period that separates the "reference" shot from the "unknown" shot. Using the multi-sample, indexed operating mode, this requirement is fully met as the system will test the "unknown" immediately after the "reference", with minimal time differential, and in the exact same thermal environment. Under these conditions, results as good or better than those produced by conventional means, such as Differential Scanning Calorimeter, can be obtained. (A detailed discussion of limitations and comparison to competitive instruments can be found in Technical Note-71.)

Additional Analysis Programs (Add-on modules)

• Clark and Taylor, least squares 1D, 2D
• Adv. Koski w/ loss parameters, Cowan
• Logarithmic 1D, 2D, Moment 1D, 2D
• Nonlinear 1D, 2D
• "Goodness of fit" statistics
• Two Layer Analysis
• Two and Three Layer Analysis

Advanced Post-Analysis (Stand-alone program)

This program is the most advanced data manipulation software available for thermal diffusivity test data analysis. It contains a full set of the correction methods Parker, Clark and Taylor (3 ratios), Degiovanni (3 ratios), Logarithmic 1D, Logarithmic 2D, Moment 1D, Moment 2D, Least Squares 1D, Least Squares 2D, Koski, and Cowan, Nonlinear 1D, 2D including "goodness of fit" calculations. It allows, among other features, easy experimentation with the various parameters for "what if" calculations and comparison between the resultant curves, etc.

Thermal Conductivity Determination

Thermal conductivity can be computed from measured values of thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity, with the additional knowledge of density. Thus, a system can automatically determine thermal conductivity using the measured (or separately entered) heat capacity and thermal diffusivity, with separately entered density data.

Data Export

Exporting of data into Excel or other third party software. (ASCII format.)

For a lower cost, more dedicated system for processing small and large samples up to 1100°C, the FL-3000™ System should be considered.

To request a quote, please fill out our Request for Particulars form.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.