Electrical characterization and test stand for heating elements

Electrical characterization: Measurement of the temperature-dependent electrical resistance

The Fraunhofer IKTS has unique test rigs that can be used to determine specific properties of electrically functional materials, especially structural ceramics. In addition to the description of electrical conduction processes, the temperature-dependent measurement of electrical resistance under a defined atmosphere makes it possible to indirectly identify and quantify processes such as oxidation, phase transformations and crack formation with high accuracy and sensitivity. The measurement setup ensures a compensation of thermal measurement and contacting influences.

Technical opportunities

• Precise analysis of the electrical resistance between 10^-4 and 10⁶ Ohm
• Variable arrangement of measurement (4-point or 2-point method)
• Characterization under argon, nitrogen, hydrogen and air atmosphere
• Temperature range from -170 up to 1400 °C

Test stand for heating elements

Electrical heating elements are frequently used in industrial processes. Besides metal heating conductors, electrically conductive ceramics play an important role in this area. Especially in the high-temperature range in corrosive and chemically reactive atmospheres ceramic materials offer many advantages. In our test stand for heating elements we examine materials or heating elements with regard to their operating behavior with changing voltage, temperatures, heating and cooling scenarios under inert, air or high vacuum atmospheres. Electrical parameters such as power consumption, heating element temperature and time-dependent alterations of these parameters are recorded computer-assisted.

Technical opportunities

High vacuum heating conductor test stand

• Voltages up to 10 V AC
• Currents up to 3000 A AC
• Measurement under high vacuum to 2·10^-6 mbar
• Temperature-time programs up to max. 2200 °C
  

Normal pressure heating conductor test stand

• Voltages up to 400 V AC
• Currents up to 600 A AC
• Measurement under air, nitrogen or argon
• Temperature-time programs up to max. 1600 °C