Uncertainty of the measurement of DC conductivity of ceramics at elevated temperatures

Abstract

The electrical DC conductivity is measured at room and elevated temperatures on green ceramic samples prepared from kaolin. The arrangement of the sample, with two platinum wire electrodes inserted in the kaolin prism that was used is suitable for measurements of temperature dependences of the DC conductivity from 20 °C to 1100 °C in the air. The uncertainty analysis taking into account thermal expansion of the sample, homogeneity of the temperature field, measurement regime, corrosion of the electrodes, and overlapping of the electrodes is done for 1000 °C. Uncertainties connected with current and voltage measurements and uncertainties connected with the instruments that were used are also considered. The sum of all the partial uncertainties gives an expanded uncertainty of the conductivity measurement. The uncertainty varies with temperature and reaches the value of ~6.5% at 1000 °C.