Ceramic Sample Holder with Platinum Interlayer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal analysis sample holders face challenges in minimizing thermal resistances and maintaining precision due to material compatibility issues, thermal expansion, and deformation, leading to inaccurate temperature measurements and weighing errors, especially at high temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A ceramic sample holder constructed using diffusion bonding with a platinum interlayer, where the sample cup is made of high-purity alumina and the thermocouple is reliably joined, minimizing thermal contact resistance and maintaining dimensional stability across temperature changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If metal sample holders are used to minimize thermal resistance, then thermal conductivity is improved, but material compatibility and chemical reactions worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidmaterial compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sample holder uses a composite structure combining alumina ceramic (for chemical inertness and high-temperature stability) with a platinum interlayer (for high thermal conductivity and chemical compatibility). This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve low thermal resistance and material compatibility by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If platinum disk is used for sample holder, then thermal conductivity is improved, but thermal expansion and deformation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoiddimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Temperature

If thin-walled container is used to minimize thermal resistance, then thermal conductivity is improved, but structural strength and durability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal resistanceVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the thermal conduction function from the container walls and relocates it to the sample holder base and interlayer. This allows the container walls to be optimized for chemical compatibility and structural integrity rather than thermal conduction, while the holder assembly provides the necessary thermal pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional joining methods are used for thermocouple attachment, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal contact resistance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of joiningVSAvoidthermal contact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The platinum interlayer serves as an intermediary between the alumina ceramic and the thermocouple, providing both mechanical support and excellent thermal contact. The thermocouple is welded to the platinum interlayer, which ensures low thermal contact resistance while the alumina-to-platinum interface is formed through diffusion bonding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Temperature

If flat contact surfaces are used to minimize thermal contact resistance, then thermal conductivity is improved, but sensitivity to surface irregularities and deformation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal contact resistanceVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces thermal contact resistance, maintains precision in temperature measurements, and expands the useful temperature range by minimizing reactions with sample containers, thus providing accurate and stable thermal analysis results.

Implementation Method 1

thermal conductivity of the body and the geometry of the heat flow path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

A ceramic sample holder constructed using diffusion bonding with a platinum interlayer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion bonding: Diffusion Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2580582B1Thermal analysis sample holder

Publication Date: 2020.03.04 WATERS TECHNOLOGY CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A sample holder for use in a scientific instrument requiring accurate and precise measurements of temperatures. The sample holder includes a ceramic sample cup diffusion bonded to a ceramic beam or to a ceramic adapter. A thermocouple is welded to the bottom of the sample cup.