THB – Transient Hot Bridge
Basic, Advance and Ultimate
Description
On point
This measuring instrument provides simultaneous measurement of three important material properties: thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat, all within a few minutes. It is versatile, capable of analyzing bulk solids, gels, pastes, plates, or even liquids.
For solid samples, the preparation is straightforward, requiring only one flat contact surface on each of two sample halves for the sensor to make accurate measurements. Calibration is a simple process and does not need to be repeated before each measurement.
The THB delivers absolute values with a level of accuracy that matches or even exceeds that of conventional plate or LaserFlash devices, making it a reliable and efficient tool for materials analysis and research.
Complies to the following Norms: ASTM D 5930-01, DIN ISO 2200-2, ASTM D 5334.
Advantages at a glance:
- Unsurpassed measurement accuracy for determining thermal conductivity
One-button solution:
- Automated measurement mode
- No specialist personnel required to operate the instrument
- No erroneous measurements due to incorrect measurement parameter input
Thermal conductivity AND thermal diffusivity
- Measurement of thermal diffusivity with very low measurement uncertainties
- Calorimeter function: Calculation of specific heat capacity
Measurements within seconds
Non-destructive measurements with half-shell sensor
Compact dimensions
Developed in cooperation with PTB Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt.
The new THB: small and light, available with transport case
Different sensors for your application
THB – Models: Basic, Advance and Ultimate
THB Basic
- only compatible with the THB/B sensor and the THB/A sensor
- THB/B sensor included (THB/A sensor on request)
- suitable for materials with low thermal conductivity (insulation and building materials)
- basic installation can be done remotely
THB Advance
- QSS sensor included (THB/A, THB/B or Hotpoint sensor on request)
- universal measuring instrument with the widest thermal conductivity range
- suitable for solids, liquids, pastes and powdery materials
- suitable for laboratory service providers, institutes and universities
- basic installation can be done remotely
THB Ultimate
- including two sensors of your choice
- high-end instrument for any requirements
- suitable for almost all materials: from insulators to copper, from solids to liquids and from bulk materials to thin films
- easy installation and training by qualified personnel
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Specifications
| Model | THB Basic | THB Advance | THB Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring range: | |||
| Thermal conductivity: | 0,01 up to 5 W/(mK) | 0,005 up to 500 W/(mK) | 0,005 up to 1800 W/(mK) |
| Thermal diffusivity: | 0,05 up to 50 mm2/s | 0,05 up to 300 mm2/s | 0,05 up to 1200 mm2/s |
| Specific heat capacity: | 100 up to 5000 kJ/(m3K) | 100 up to 5000 kJ/(m3K) | 100 up to 5000 kJ/(m3K) |
| Measurement precision: | |||
| Thermal conductivity**: | better than 1 % | better than 1 % | better than 1 % |
| Thermal diffusivity**: | better than 4 % | better than 4 % | better than 4 % |
| Thermal capacity**: | better than 4 % | better than 4 % | better than 4 % |
| Measuring duration: | |||
| Solids: | approx. 1 up to 10 min | approx. 1 up to 10 min | approx. 1 up to 10 min |
| Liquids: | approx. 1 up to 120 s | approx. 1 up to 120 s | approx. 1 up to 120 s |
| Operating temperature: | |||
| Sensor: | –150°C up to 700°C | –150°C up to 700°C | –150°C up to 700°C |
| Sensor type: | Kapton, Ceramics | Kapton, Ceramics | Kapton, Ceramics |
| Sample size: | |||
| Smallest sample size*: | 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 mm | 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 mm | 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 mm |
| Maximum sample size: | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
* depending on furnace and sensor, sample size depends on material
** depending on sample sensor and sample preparation
THB-Sensors
| Sensor type | Min. sample size | Temperature range | Measuring range | Suitable for**** | THB Model compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THB Sensors: | |||||
| THB/A | 20 x 40 x 5 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,01 – 5 W/mK | S | Basic, Advance, Ultimate |
| THB/A/Metal | 20 x 40 x 5 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,01 – 5 W/mK | S,P,L | Basic, Advance, Ultimate |
| THB/B | 10 x 20 x 3 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,01 – 2 W/mK | S | Basic, Advance, Ultimate |
| THB/B/Metal | 10 x 20 x 3 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,01 – 2 W/mK | S,P,L | Basic, Advance, Ultimate |
| THB/HT** | 20 x 40 x 5 mm | RT up to 700 °C | 0,01 – 1 W/mK | S | Basic, Advance, Ultimate |
| QSS-Sensors: | |||||
| QSS | 25 x 55 x 3 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,005 – 1800 W/mK | S,P | Advance, Ultimate |
| QSS HT** | 25 x 55 x 3 mm | RT up to 700 °C | 0,2 – 100 W/(mK) | S,P,L | Advance, Ultimate |
| Hotpoint Sensors: | |||||
| Hotpoint | 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 mm | -150 up to 200 °C*** | 0,01 – 30 W/mK | S,P,L,G | Advance, Ultimate |
| Hotpoint HT** | 10 x 10 x 10 mm | RT up to 700 °C | 0,01 – 5 W/mK | P,L,G | Advance, Ultimate |
* The exact min. sample size depends on the material properties.
** High temperature (HT) version is based on a ceramic substrate, slightly reduces the accuracy.
*** All maximum temperatures refer to operation under air. If Kapton Sensors are used in inert atmosphere the maximum temperature range can be extended from 200°C to 300°C.
**** Solids (S) Liquids (L) Powder (P) Gases (G)
THB A Sensor
THB A Metal Sensor
THB B Sensor
THB B Metal Sensor
THB/HT Sensor
QSS Sensor
QSS HT Sensor
Furnaces and climatic chambers
- Standard THB furnace – Peltier cooling (-20 to +50 °C)
- Standard THB furnace HT – with heating cartridges (RT to 200 °C)
- High temperature furnace (RT to 1000 °C)
- Low temperature furnace for large samples max. 60 x 100 x 30 mm (-125 to 500 °C)
- Furnace for controlled humidity (-20 to 80 °C)
- Furnace for liquids, powders and pastes (150 to 500 °C)
Further accessories
- Press for defined pressure on the specimen (test stand, handwheel operated up to 500 N, digital force gauge up to 250 )
- Specimen holder for liquids
- Specimen holder for powder
- Transport case for the THB
- Various calibration materials (PMMA, glass, titanium, tin, zinc)
Calibration materials: PMMA, glass, titanium, tin, zinc
Peltier cooling
Compression press
Software
Making values visible and comparable
Advantages at a glance:
- Advanced THB Windows®-based software interface
- Provides the fastest measurement times
- No possibility for application errors thanks to optimized, software-controlled measurement algorithms
- Enables most accurate and time-saving measurements
- One-button solution: results at the touch of a button
- Easy data export to Microsoft Excel®
Applications
Application: THB Basic/Advance – Phase change material – Thermal conductivity
In this example, the thermal conductivity of two hydrated salts was analyzed. Both phase change materials (PCMs) were initially in a liquid state at room temperature. The liquids were placed in a beaker within a temperature-controlled liquid bath. To measure their thermal conductivity, a sensor (THB/B/Metal) was suspended into the sample. The measurements were conducted at temperature steps of -20 °C, -10 °C, 0 °C, +10 °C, 20 °C (room temperature), and +30 °C, starting the measurement in the solid state of the material. At each temperature level, three measurement points were recorded and then averaged.
The results showed that the thermal conductivity of Sample A slightly increased as it was heated up to 0 °C, while Sample B exhibited slightly decreasing values. Both samples underwent a phase transition from the solid to the liquid state in the temperature range from 0 °C to 10 °C, which is evident from the drop in thermal conductivity. With increasing temperature, the thermal conductivity of both samples increased slightly. Overall, Sample B consistently demonstrated higher thermal conductivities compared to Sample A.
Application: THB Advance – Aluminium Alloy – Thermal conductivity
The thermal conductivity of an aluminum alloy was studied over a temperature range from room temperature to 100 °C using the THB (Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity, and Specific Heat) measurement system. For this analysis, the QSS (Quick Snap Sensor) was positioned between two sample pieces and pressed together to ensure improved thermal contact. This configuration was placed in a furnace, and temperature steps were set at room temperature, 50 °C, and 100 °C. At each temperature step, the measurement was repeated three times, and the results were averaged.
The graph illustrates that as the temperature increases, the thermal conductivity of the aluminum alloy slightly decreases. The error bars on the graph represent an uncertainty of 2%, indicating the margin of error associated with the measurements.
Video
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