Abstract. Deep (>1 km depth) scientific boreholes are unique assets
that can be used to address a variety of microbiological, hydrologic, and
biogeochemical hypotheses. Few of these deep boreholes exist in oceanic
crust. One of them, Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole 504B, reaches
∼190 ∘C at its base. We designed, fabricated, and
laboratory-tested the Multi-Temperature Fluid Sampler (MTFS), a non-gas-tight, titanium syringe-style fluid sampler for borehole applications
that is tolerant of such high temperatures. Each of the 12 MTFS units
collects a single 1 L sample at a predetermined temperature, which is
defined by the trigger design and a shape memory alloy (SMA). SMAs have the
innate ability to be deformed and only return to their initial shapes when
their activation temperatures are reached, thereby triggering a sampler at a
predetermined temperature. Three SMA-based trigger mechanisms, which do not
rely on electronics, were tested. Triggers were released at temperatures
spanning from 80 to 181 ∘C. The MTFS was set for
deployment on International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 385T, but
hole conditions precluded its use. The sampler is ready for use in deep
oceanic or continental scientific boreholes with minimal training for
operational success.
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