Enclad cable and thermocouples

BASF Catalysts Enclad® products are a precise and rigorously controlled combination of select precious and base metal sheaths, high-purity ceramic insulations and compatible precious metal thermocouple wires consolidated into a rugged assembly which is bendable into difficult to reach places. Enclad products include cable, standard thermocouples and composite-sheath thermocouples.

Enclad thermocouples have been extensively used in the following select applications in which high temperature resistance or chemical inertness of the sheath material is required:

• Crystal growth
• Gas turbine combustor discharge
• Liquid phase epitaxy
• Biomedical research
• Ion implant
• Glass melting and working
• Ceramic sintering
• Refractory erosion monitoring
• Nuclear research
• Soaking pit control
• Heat-treating furnaces
• Energy conversion
• Plasma physics research

Specification
Specifying sheath materials
The choice of the outer sheath material must be made after considering its compatibility with the environment, its operating temperature and its structural loading. In general, the following temperatures have been found suitable for Enclad sheath materials:

• Pt— 1200° C
• ODS Pt— 1600° C
• Pt-10Rh— 1500° C
• Pt-20Rh— 1650° C
• Inconel 600— 800° C

Specifying thermocouple materials
Type S and R thermocouple material are the most popular in the platinum-rhodium system. They are noted for excellent stability up to their recommended maximum-use temperature of 1400° C.

Type B thermocouples have proved effective for applications up to 1750° C, with excellent stability and sensitivity.