C-THERM TCi, Operator'S Manual, Page: 32 / 138

TCi Operator Manual
26
4 Testing
In general, testing with the C-Therm TCi system is intended to be fast. It can directly measure
thermal conductivity or effusivity. It can indirectly measure diffusivity, heat capacity, the R-Value,
or depth of penetration.
Material
Type
Minimum
Thickness
Power
Level
Temperature
Range (°C)
Sample Setup &
Preparation
Contact Agent
Liquids* 1 mm 90 -50 to 192
Fill 50 mL beaker to
35 mL mark. Place
sensor in beaker.
None Powders* 1 mm 90 -50 to 192
Fill 50 mL beaker to
30 mL mark. Place
sensor in beaker.
Foams 2 mm 90 -50 to 192
Place sample on
sensor. Place weight
on sample.
Polymers 5 mm 90 -50 to 192 Place contact agent
on sensor. Place
sample on sensor.
Place weight on
sample.
-20 to 5°C 3 drops glycol
5 to 70°C 3 drops water
70 to 170°C Wakefield 120
thermal grease **
Ceramics 5 mm 90 -50 to 192
Metals 5-12 mm 125 -50 to 150
*For lower sample volumes, other accessories are available – see Appendix A or contact
C-Therm for more information.
** Use Wakefield 120 thermal grease for long tests, tests at high temperatures, or with
absorbent or porous materials.
Note: When testing materials, especially high conductivity materials, use fabric gloves to
minimize heat transfer from your hands to the tested materials . High conductivity
materials will quickly absorb heat from your hands, and will create a temperature gradient,
which may affect the results.
4.1 General Procedure
Step 1 – Prepare the materials to be tested.
Specifics of material preparation are given in the following sections. It is highly recommended
that users wear gloves while handling solid materials to avoid thermal contamination.
Step 2 – Position the material on the sensor.
Specifics on sensor positioning are given in the following sections.
Step 3 - Click the New Test button on the toolbar.
Alternately, click the New Test option in the file main menu.
Step 4 - Select the project.