LNE, NPL, and PTB decided in 2005 to join their research efforts in the framework of Euromet Project 857 with the aim of reducing the calibration uncertainty of noble metal and other high-temperature thermocouples by at least a factor of two. This ambitious target will be met through the development and implementation of robust high-temperature fixed points based on metal-carbon eutectic technology. The Euromet project is structured around five work packages and ensures good and efficient cooperation between the partners to meet the objectives within the project timeframe of four years. Furthermore, a formal cooperative research agreement has been established with the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) to demonstrate, on a worldwide basis, that this new method is a significant improvement over current calibration methods. In summary, the project consists of (a) the development of sets of cells at the cobalt-carbon eutectic point (1,324 • C) and palladium-carbon eutectic point (1,492 • C) and (b) the construction of platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) thermocouples carefully stabilized for use to these temperatures. Supplementary research to be undertaken as part of this project is the improvement of fixed-point construction and realization capabilities through high-temperature furnaces with low thermal gradients. This paper describes the European project and gives an overview of current progress.

An intercomparison of the melting temperatures of four Co-C eutectic fixed-point cells by using two Pt/Pd thermocouples was performed. The cells are usable for the calibration of thermocouples and were constructed in the participating laboratories of PTB, NPL, LNE and NMIJ/AIST. The measurements were performed in four different high-temperature furnaces but by applying the same measurement procedure. In spite of slightly different cell designs and different material sources the melting temperatures of the investigated Co-C cells agreed very well within their expanded uncertainties of k = 2. Furthermore, the mean maximum difference of the melting temperatures of the four Co-C cells measured in different laboratories by using different furnaces and Pt/Pd thermocouples was found to be of the order of 85 mK (2 µV).

Ultrasonic thermometry sensors (UTS) have been intensively studied in the past to measure temperatures from 2080 K to 3380 K. This sensor, which uses the temperature dependence of the acoustic velocity in materials, was developed for experiments in extreme environments. Its major advantages, which are (a) capability of measuring a temperature profile from multiple sensors on a single probe and (b) measurement near the sensor material melting point, can be of great interest when dealing with on-line monitoring of high-temperature safety tests. Ultrasonic techniques were successfully applied in several severe accident related experiments. With new developments of alternative materials, this instrument may be used in a wide range of experimental areas where robustness and compactness are required. Long-term irradiation experiments of nuclear fuel to extremely high burn-ups could benefit from this previous experience. After an overview of UTS technology, this article summarizes experimental work performed to improve the reliability of these sensors. The various C. Wilkins is working as a consultant (retired from INL). designs, advantages, and drawbacks are outlined and future prospects for long-term high-temperature irradiation experiments are discussed.

This work investigates the effect of heating techniques on the realization of the ITS-90 fixed points above room temperature. For that purpose, LNE has constructed a new apparatus to realize the indium fixed point under adiabatic conditions using the "calorimetric" method. The adiabatic condition, in general, is established by maintaining a temperature difference between the fixed-point cell and its surroundings that is as small as possible. In this work, the indium fixed-point cell is located within thermally controlled heat shields whose walls also contain indium. Thus, the shields themselves are also indium cells. The experiments realizing the melting and freezing temperatures of indium using the calorimetric method are described. The results revealed the existence of thermal effects in the realization of the indium fixed-point cell by the conventional "continuous heat flux" method. The advantages of the "cell-withincell" technique are presented.

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