Design, performance, and operation of the laser interferometric dilatometer
A dilatometer was designed and constructed to perform high-precision thermal-expansion measurements over the temperature range from ambient to 900 K. This report details the design, construction, operation, and performance of the device. The measurement of length change employs an optical interferometer system which consists of a Michelson interferometer, a two-frequency HeNe laser, and ac fringe detection. Length-change precision of better than +- 0.05 ..mu..m is achieved. Dilatometer control, status, data acquisition, and analysis functions are achieved by a minicomputer in order to achieve automated control. Further design features are incorporated which minimize sample preparation and assembly time to achieve rapid sample measurements. The interferometer alignment is under computer control to assist the operator during final adjustment and to maintain alignment throughout the course of a measurement. The performancee of the device was evaluated by measurement of three thermal-expansion standards (fused silica, platinum, and copper). For the low-expansion fused silica, the dilatometer was determined to have a precision of 3 x 10/sup -8//K in the measurement of the thermal-expansion coefficient. Two additional applications of the device are described to demonstrate its use on thin (3-mm) samples and for long-term length changes under isothermal conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6154750
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-83-0197; ON: DE83014359
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Laser interferometric dilatometer for low-expansion materials
Laser interferometric dilatometer for low-expansion materials
Related Subjects
DILATOMETRY
MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER
ACCURACY
CALIBRATION
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COPPER
DATA ACQUISITION
DESIGN
HELIUM-NEON LASERS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLATINUM
SILICA
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
GAS LASERS
INTERFEROMETERS
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TESTING
THERMAL ANALYSIS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)