Temperature scale fixed points

There are two reasons for having many points with which to fix a temperature scale. One is that, as mentioned before, few materials affected by heat change length equally or linearly. Having many points allows scales to be calibrated in short ranges, where nonlinearity is less likely to have a pronounced effect. The second is that few, if any, thermometers can read all temperatures. Most thermometers are calibrated to read a small range of temperatures. Many fixing points allows for a robust system of calibration. Unfortunately, most of these points require expensive equipment, and even then they are not easy to obtain and/or verify. 

The new international temperature scale, known as ITS-90, was adopted in September 1989. However, neither the definition of thermodynamic temperature nor the definition of the kelvin or the Celsius temperature scales has changed it is the way in which we are to realize these definitions that has changed. The changes concern the recommended thermometers to be used in different regions of the temperature scale and the list of secondary standard fixed points. The changes in temperature determined using ITS-90 from the previous IPTS-68 are always less than 0.4 K, and almost always less than 0.2 K, over the range 0-1300 K. 

The ultimate definition of thermodynamic temperature is in terms of pV (pressure X volume) in a gas thermometer extrapolated to low pressure. The kelvin (K), the unit of thermodynamic temperature, is defined by specifying the temperature of one fixed point on the scale—the triple point... 

Defining fixed points of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). Except for the triple points, the assigned values of temperature are for equilibrium states at a pressure of one standard atmosphere (101 325 Pa). 

The KTTS depends upon an absolute 2ero and one fixed point through which a straight line is projected. Because they are not ideally linear, practicable interpolation thermometers require additional fixed points to describe their individual characteristics. Thus a suitable number of fixed points, ie, temperatures at which pure substances in nature can exist in two- or three-phase equiUbrium, together with specification of an interpolation instmment and appropriate algorithms, define a temperature scale. The temperature values of the fixed points are assigned values based on adjustments of data obtained by thermodynamic measurements such as gas thermometry. 

Vapor pressure data for soHd carbon dioxide are given in Table 2 (10). The sublimation temperature of soHd carbon dioxide, 194.5 K at 101 kPa (1 atm), was selected as one of the secondary fixed points for the International Temperature Scale of 1948. 

The so-called standard instrument is used for interpolation between the fixed points and for the calibration of other thermometers lower in the metrological hierarchy. The standard instrument in the moderate temperature range is a special platinum resistance probe, as it has to fulfill set requirements. It is important in all calibration that traceability to a primary normal, here the fixed-point ITS-90 scale, exists. 

There are great advantages to an absolute temperature scale that has its zero point at — 273°C. Whereas the zero of temperature in the Centigrade scale is based upon an arbitrary temperature, selected because it is easily measured, the zero point of the absolute scale has inherent significance in the kinetic theory. If we express temperatures on an absolute temperature scale, we find that the volume of a fixed amount of gas (at constant pressure) varies directly with temperature Also, the pressure of a fixed amount of (at constant volume) varies directly with temperature. And, according to the kinetic theory, the kinetic energy of the molecules varies directly with the absolute temperature. For these reasons, in dealing with gas relations, we shall usually express temperature on an absolute temperature scale. 

The International Temperature Scale — ITS-90 For ITS-90, temperatures of a series of fixed points are measured as accurately as possible with a gas thermometer. A complete description of ITS-90 is given in the literature5 7 and... 

ITS-90 is the latest in a series of international temperature scales. Each represents an improvement over an earlier scale as more reliable values for the fixed points are established. It has been the practice to update the ITS temperature scale approximately every twenty years. Earlier scales include (ITS-27), (ITS-48), (IPTS-68), and a provisional scale in 1976. 

The international temperature scale is based upon the assignment of temperatures to a relatively small number of fixed points , conditions where three phases, or two phases at a specified pressure, are in equilibrium, and thus are required by the Gibbs phase rule to be at constant temperature. Different types of thermometers (for example, He vapor pressure thermometers, platinum resistance thermometers, platinum/rhodium thermocouples, blackbody radiators) and interpolation equations have been developed to reproduce temperatures between the fixed points and to generate temperature scales that are continuous through the intersections at the fixed points. 

Approximately every twenty years, the international temperature scale is updated to incorporate the most recent measurements of the equilibrium thermodynamic temperature of the fixed points, to revise the interpolation equations, or to change the specifications of the interpolating measuring devices. The latest of these scales is the international temperature scale of 1990 (ITS-90). It supersedes the earlier international practical temperature scale of 1968 (IPTS-68), along with an interim scale (EPT-76). These temperature scales replaced earlier versions (ITS-48 and ITS-27). 

The ITS-90 scale is designed to give temperatures T90 that do not differ from the Kelvin Thermodynamic Scale by more than the uncertainties associated with the measurement of the fixed points on the date of adoption of ITS-90 (January 1, 1990), to extend the low-temperature range previously covered by EPT-76, and to replace the high-temperature thermocouple measurements of IPTS-68 with platinum resistance thermometry. The result is a scale that has better agreement with thermodynamic temperatures, and much better continuity, reproducibility, and accuracy than all previous international scales. 

Temperatures on ITS-90, as on earlier scales, are defined in terms of fixed points, interpolating instruments, and equations that relate the measured property of the instrument to temperature. The report on ITS-90 of the Consultative Committee on Thermometry is published in Metrologia and in the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology The description that follows is extracted from those publications.3 Two additional documents by CCT further describe ITS-90 Supplementary Information for the ITS-90, and Techniques for Approximating the ITS-90.4... 

Table A2.1 Fixed points for the International Temperature Scale, ITS-90...

In general, a thermometer is called primary if a theoretical reliable relation exists between a measured quantity (e.g. p in constant volume gas thermometer) and the temperature T. The realization and use of a primary thermometer are extremely difficult tasks reserved to metrological institutes. These difficulties have led to the definition of a practical temperature scale, mainly based on reference fixed points, which mimics, as well as possible, the thermodynamic temperature scale, but is easier to realize and disseminate. The main characteristics of a practical temperature scale are both a good reproducibility and a deviation from the thermodynamic temperature T which can be represented by a smooth function of T. In fact, if the deviation function is not smooth, the use of the practical scale would produce steps in the measured quantities as function of T, using the practical scale. The latter is based on ... 

Chapter 8. Temperature scales and temperature fixed points... 

Modern temperature scale proposed by G. Fahrenheit, defined by a thermometer, a law and three fixed points. Fahrenheit s thermometer was a mercury-in-glass one. Thermal expansion versus temperature was assumed linear. Three fixed points were defined 0°F temperature of a mixture of water, ice and ammonium chloride 32°F temperature of melting ice 96°F temperature of human body... 

The XIII Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures adopts the Kelvin scale with a single fixed point 273.16K. The unit of temperature is designated Kelvin its symbol is K. 

In 1968, an international agreement was reached about the definition of an official (practical) scale of temperature for T> 14 K. This temperature scale IPTS-68, corrected in 1975 [11], was defined by reference fixed points given by transitions of pure substances. To extend the low-temperature range of IPTS-68, the EPT 76 [12-13] gave nine reference temperatures defined by phase transition of pure substances in particular the superconductive transition (between 0.5 and 9K) of five pure metals was introduced. Moreover,... 

Above the freezing point of silver, Tgq is defined in terms of a defining fixed point and the Planck radiation law, and optical pyrometers are frequently used as temperature probes. The Comite Consultatif de Thermometrie gives a thorough discussion of the different techniques for approximation of the international temperature scale of 1990 [2, 4],... 

The International Temperature Scale (ITS) revised in 1990 establishes fixed points and the corresponding temperatures. A few of them are reported in Table 6.2. 

Table 6.2. A selection of temperature fixed points according to the (1990) Revision of the International Temperature Scale.

---