LFA 1000
High performance Laser Flash measurements
Description
On point
The Linseis LFA 1000 Laser Flash is a highly modular and precise instrument designed for the comprehensive determination of Thermal Diffusivity, Conductivity, and Specific Heat.
This cutting-edge system offers versatility in the form of multiple sample holders catering to a wide range of applications, including solids, liquids, melts, and slags. Moreover, its sample robot capability, accommodating up to 3, 6, or 18 samples simultaneously, ensures remarkably quick turnaround times. The instrument’s adaptability is further demonstrated through three user-exchangeable furnaces, enabling measurements spanning from -125°C to a remarkable 2800°C.
The application areas for the LFA 1000 are diverse and include electronic packaging, heat sinks, brackets, reactor cooling, heat exchangers, thermal insulators, and more.
What sets LINSEIS apart is its unrivaled modular system design for this thermophysical properties analyzer. Users have the flexibility to upgrade both the temperature range (by changing furnaces or the measuring system) and the detector (switching between InSb and MCT detectors). This means that you can begin with a cost-effective solution and enhance the system as needed, either when budget constraints allow or when specific measurement requirements demand it.
Furthermore, the compact design of the instrument enables the separation of hardware and electronics, making it suitable for installation under a hood, particularly in applications related to nuclear studies or sensitive environments.
Principal of Laser Flash Measurement
In the LFA 1000, the sample is positioned on a sample robot situated inside a furnace. The furnace is precisely set to a predetermined temperature. At this designated temperature, the sample’s surface is exposed to a controlled energy pulse, generated either by a laser or a xenon flash. This energy pulse induces a uniform temperature increase at the sample’s surface. Subsequently, the temperature rise at the rear surface of the sample is detected by a high-speed infrared (IR) detector, and thermal diffusivity values are computed based on the data representing the temperature rise over time.
The measuring signal generated by the LFA 1000 provides information on thermal diffusivity and, in most cases, specific heat (Cp) data. If the density (r) of the material is known, it is possible to calculate the thermal conductivity as well:
Thermal Conductivity (k) Calculation:
The LINSEIS LFA instruments adhere to international and national standards, ensuring their correspondence with recognized guidelines such as ASTM E-1461, DIN 30905, and DIN EN 821. This conformity ensures the accuracy and reliability of the measurements obtained.
The LFA 1000 is designed with a vertical configuration, placing the sensor at the top, the sample in the middle, and the heat source (Laser Lamp) at the bottom. This layout offers user-friendly operation and ensures the attainment of optimal measurement results.
The instrument offers adjustability in pulse energy within a range of 0.05 to 25 Joule per pulse. Furthermore, the pulse duration can be tailored to specific requirements. This flexibility allows for the analysis of a wide range of challenging samples, including thin films and materials with extremely low thermal conductivity.
Specifications
| Model | LFA 1000* |
|---|---|
| Temperature range: | -125 °C/ -100 °C up to 500°C RT up to 1250°C RT up to 1600°C |
| Heating rate: | 0,01 up to 20 K |
| Pulse source Nd: | Ng:YAG Laser 25 J/Puls |
| Measurement of temp. rise: | Contact less with IR detector (InSb or MCT) |
| Measuring range th. diffusivity: | 0.01 mm2/s … 1000 mm2/s |
| Measuring range th. conductivity: | 0.1 W/mk … 2000 W/mK |
| Sample dimensions: | ∅ 3, 6, 10, 12.7 … 25.4 mm, square samples 10×10 or 20x 20 mm |
| Sample Thickness: | 0.1 mm … 6 mm |
| Nr. of Samples: | Sample robot for up to 3, 6, or 18 samples |
| Sample holder: | metal/SiC/Graphite |
| Sample holder for liquids: | available |
| Atmospheres: | inert, oxidizing, reducing, vacuum |
| Electronics: | Integrated |
| Data acquisition: | 2 MHz |
| Interface: | USB |
| Heating rate: | 0,01 up to 50 °C/min* |
| Model | LFA 2800* |
|---|---|
| Temperature range: | RT up to 2000°C |
| Heating rate: | 0.01 up to 50°C/min |
| Pulse source Nd: | Ng:YAG Laser 25 J/pulse |
| Measurement of temp. rise: | Contact less with IR detector (InSb or MCT) |
| Measuring range th. diffusivity: | 0.01 mm2/s … 1000 mm2/s |
| Measuring range th. conductivity: | 0.1 W/mk … 2000 W/mK |
| Sample dimensions: | ∅ 6, 10, 12.7 … 25.4 mm |
| Sample Thickness: | 0.1 mm … 6 mm |
| Nr. of Samples: | Sample robot for up to 3 samples |
| Sample holder: | metal/SiC/Graphite |
| Sample holder for liquids: | available |
| Atmospheres: | inert or reducing (he recommended) |
| Electronics: | Integrated |
| Data acquisition: | 2 MHz |
| Interface: | USB |
| Heating rate: | 0,01 up to 100 °C/min* |
Sample holder
Sample Carriers for LFA 1000:
- 18 round or square slots for samples measuring 3 mm or 6 mm in size.
- 6 slots accommodating round or square samples with dimensions of 3 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm, or 12.7 mm.
- 3 slots designed for round samples measuring 25.4 mm or square samples of 20 mm.
- Sample carousel for convenient sample handling and positioning.
Sample Holders for LFA 1000:
- Square sample holders for samples in sizes of 3×3 mm, 10×10 mm, and 20×20 mm.
- Round sample holders catering to samples with diameters of 3 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, and 25.4 mm.
- Liquid Container, suitable for liquid samples.
- Sample holder for lamellas, designed for specific sample formats.
- In-plane and cross-plane sample holders.
- Round sample holders designed for circular samples.
- Sample holder for liquids and pastes.
- Torque pressure container for specialized applications.
Customized configurations
Additionally, we provide customized configurations to meet specific requirements. In scenarios related to the nuclear industry, we have implemented a distinct housing for the electronics to address unique needs. Our team of application specialists is readily available to offer guidance and recommendations for selecting the most suitable instrument tailored to your specific application.
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Software
All LINSEIS thermo-analytical instruments are seamlessly integrated with PC control, running individual software modules exclusively under Microsoft® Windows® operating systems. The comprehensive software package comprises three essential modules: temperature control, data acquisition, and data evaluation, providing the necessary tools for measurement preparation, execution, and assessment, in line with other thermo-analytical experiments.
LFA (Laser Flash Analysis) Features:
- Precise pulse length correction and pulse mapping capabilities.
- Heat-loss corrections to enhance data accuracy.
- Analysis of two- or three-layer systems, offering insights into complex materials.
- A wizard for easy selection of the most suitable evaluation model.
- Specific heat determination for a comprehensive understanding of material properties.
- Contact resistance determination in multi-layer systems.
- Evaluation Software with automatic or manual input of relevant measurement data (such as density and specific heat).
- A model wizard to assist in choosing the appropriate evaluation model.
- Finite pulse correction and heat loss correction for precise data analysis.
- A multilayer model for comprehensive analysis of multi-material systems.
- Determination of contact resistance for enhanced insights into material behavior.
- Specific heat (Cp) determination using a comparative method.
Measurement Software:
- User-friendly data input for temperature segments, gas settings, and more.
- Control over the sample robot, streamlining the measurement process.
- Automated display of corrected measurements following the energy pulse.
- Fully automated measurement procedures for multi-sample measurements, enhancing efficiency and data consistency.
Applications
Application example: Thermal diffusivity of glass ceramic with LFA 1000
To demonstrate the consistency of thermal diffusivity values, Pyroceram, a glass ceramic known as a Corning trademark and employed as a standard material across various applications, was subjected to testing using the LFA 1000. A total of 18 measurements were conducted, utilizing 18 samples obtained from a single bulk block. Each sample was measured individually, and the outcomes revealed a range of results within a ±1% margin in a temperature span reaching up to 1250°C. This showcases the remarkable reproducibility and reliability of the thermal diffusivity measurements achieved through the LFA 1000 instrument.
Application example: Thermal conductivity of graphite with LFA 1000
A graphite sample was subjected to in-depth examination using the LFA 1000. Thermal diffusivity was directly measured across a range of temperatures, extending from room temperature (RT) to 1600°C. Simultaneously, the specific heat capacity was determined by employing a known graphite standard as a reference in a separate sample position within the same measurement. The product of these measurements, along with the sample’s density, yielded the corresponding thermal conductivity.
The results unveiled a characteristic linear decrease in thermal conductivity with increasing temperature, which aligns with typical graphite behavior. Notably, the thermal diffusivity exhibited a plateau above 500°C, suggesting a unique thermal response within this temperature range. Concurrently, the specific heat capacity displayed a slight increase as the temperature rose. These findings provide valuable insights into the thermal properties and behavior of the graphite sample under varying temperature conditions.
Application example: Influence of sample thickness on thermal conductivity accuracy of LFA 1000
To assess the impact of sample thickness on the accuracy of thermal conductivity measurements, a silver standard was employed. The objective was to determine the most suitable sample thickness for laser flash method experiments. Silver samples of varying thickness were analyzed at room temperature. Thermal conductivity values were calculated using data on thermal diffusivity, density, and heat capacity.
The findings revealed a distinct trend: the accuracy of measurements, as compared to literature values, exhibited an exponential increase in deviation as sample thickness decreased. There appears to be a critical threshold of around 200 micrometers below which accurate values cannot be reliably obtained. It’s important to note that this discrepancy is not solely due to method limitations but also stems from the fact that thin layers exhibit behavior distinct from bulk materials. This distinction underscores the importance of employing specialized techniques such as THIN FILM LFA or other thin film methodologies when investigating materials with reduced thickness.
External applications
Toward New Thermoelectrics: Tin Selenide/Modified Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites (published ACS Omega)
Thermoelectric Performance of Single-Phase Tellurium-Reduced Quaternary (PbTe)0.55(PbS)0.1(PbSe)0.35 (published ACS Omega)
Improving the Thermoelectric Performance of Tetrahedrally Bonded Quaternary Selenide Cu2CdSnSe4 Using CdSe Precipitates (published The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
Video
Downloads
LFA 1000 Product Brochure (PDF)
