High-temperature testing, laboratory

The effects of temperature alone on physical properties are well known. High-temperature test results for several elastomers are shown in Table 16 A. 1 [2]. Note the dramatic loss of tensile strength and elongation for temperatures above the standard laboratory test temperature. 

The best sub-atmospheric refrigerant is water. Unfortunately it is not strongly adsorbed by carbons, but refrigerators and heat pumps based on water - zeolite pairs have been built and tested in research laboratories. Methanol is adsorbed well by carbons and a solar refrigerator based on a carbon - methanol pair was marketed by Brissoneau et Lotz Marine in France. Methanol is environmentally friendly, but deeomposes at temperatures around 150°C and so camiot be used for very high temperature cycles. 

The surface temperature of explosion-proof enclosures cannot exceed that of high-temperature devices, Equipment can be tested by nationally recognized testing laboratories and given one of 14 T ratings, as indicated in Table 17-2. This equipment may exceed the 80 percent rule."... 

To counter the elevated emissions associated with enrichment, the EPA has adopted supplemental federal test procedures. The new laboratory test procedures contain higher speeds, higher acceleration and deceleration rates, rapid speed changes, and a test that requires the air conditioning to be in operation. These tests increase the probability that vehicles will go into enrichment under laboratory test conditions. Hence, manufacturers have an incentive to reduce the frequency of enrichment occurrence in the real world. Future catalytic converters and emissions control systems will be resistant to the high-temperature conditions associated with engine load, and will be less likely to require enrichment for protection. Thus, enrichment contributions to emissions will continue to decline. 

Method of conducting controlled velocity laboratory corrosion tests Dynamic corrosion testing of metals in high temperature water... 

It has been established that salts can deposit or form on metals during gas-metal reactions. Molten layers could then develop at high operating temperatures. Consequently, the laboratory testing of corrosion resistance in molten salts could yield valuable results for evaluating resistance to some high-temperature gaseous environments. 

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requires that consumer batteries pass a number of safety tests [3]. UL requires that a battery withstand a short circuit without fire or explosion. A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device [4] is used for external short-circuit protection. The resistance of a PTC placed in series with the cell increases by orders of magnitude at high currents and resulting high temperatures. However, in the case of an internal short, e.g., if the positive tab comes lose and contacts the interior of the negative metal can, the separator could act as a fuse. That is, the impedance of the separator increases by two to three orders of magnitude due to an increase in cell temperature. 

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Test 94 can be used. The placement of the specimen, the size of the flame, and its position and location with respect to the specimen are described in detail in this important UL specifications. Depending on their nonburning to burning capabilities, results of tests are reported as being materials classed 94V-0, 94V-1, 94V-2, 94-5V, etc. (Chapter 2, HIGH TEMPERATURE, Flammability). 

Laboratory catalyst testing is sometimes done under conditions that are far removed from exhaust gas conditions, and can be a very unreliable guide to the utility of a catalyst. For instance, noble metals may rank below base metal oxides in oxidation activity at low temperatures, but the ranking reverses at high temperatures. These and other hazards were pointed out by Schlatter et al. (53). Laboratory catalyst testing is usually done by the catalyst manufacturers, resulting in the rejection of a vast majority of formulations. 

Tellurium has been tested as a cathode material for use in conjunction with an anode made of alkali metal, primarily lithium, in power sources with a high specific energy and power [99], The theoretical specific energy for Li/Te pair is 612 Wh kg High-temperature (470 °C) cells with Li, Te, and eutectic (LiF-LiCl-Lil) electrolyte in the molten state, or with more convenient, albeit more resistive, paste-type electrolytes, have been tested in the laboratory. Similar layouts have been proposed for utilizing the Li/Se pair (theoretic cal specific energy 1,210 W h kg ) with the cell ingredients in the molten state (365 C) or with paste electrolyte at a lower temperature. 

A feature of corrosion studies which has been stressed recently (2) is the complete failure of laboratory tests on their own to predict how reliable operation of some nuclear steam generators can be maintained. At least a part of this problem is likely to arise from different redox and/or pH conditions imposed by the solution in autoclave tests and in plant conditions and many low level contaminants could be involved. In view of what has been said earlier concerning the role of Mo(VI) in stagnant water it is clear that some data, at least on the thermodynamics of aqueous Mo species, should be sought at high temperatures. 

Experiments can be conducted with well-specified ambient air, if a suitable chamber is in a highly polluted area and if ambient air can be introduced into the chamber without significant pollutant losses. Other runs with clean air and matched temperature and humidity serve as controls. Alternatively, mobile health-testing laboratories with air monitoring capabilities can go to polluted areas of interest. 

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