Toward Carbon Dioxide Vapor-Pressure Thermometer

Abstract

The Temperature Group Laboratory of the National Metrology Institute of Turkey (TUBITAK UME) has realized the scale in the range from the argon triple point (83.8058 K) to the copper freezing point (1357.77 K) and also constructed the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) defining fixed points (Preston-Thomas, Metrologia 27, 3 (1990)). The scale is realized in the low-temperature sub-range by interpolation between the triple points of water, mercury, and argon. The calibration of thermometers below the temperature of the triple point of mercury requires the realization of the argon triple point. Since calibration laboratories are asking for references down to −60 °C, a triple point of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gives this opportunity to be used as a secondary fixed point. Another aim of this work is to study the ability of CO₂ vapor pressure to realize a vapor-pressure thermometer for covering the range from 216 K up to room temperature. This realization is intended to provide an approximation of the international temperature scale in this temperature range. The vapor-pressure thermometer is intended to be assessed by using the triple point of carbon dioxide and by measuring the pressure values at the temperatures of the triple points of mercury and water. Realization of the triple-point temperature of carbon dioxide and the development of the vapor-pressure thermometer will be investigated and presented in this article.