In the range between 0 °C and 961 °C, the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) depends to a great extent on the freezing points of the pure metals gallium, indium, tin, zinc, aluminium and silver. An up-to-date realization of these fixed points is based on cells containing metals of ultra-high purity (6N or better) and should include a correction for the influence of relevant impurities. Still, chemical analyses of the fixed-point material can show large amounts of oxygen, which had to be neglected so far, because of the lack of detailed knowledge about it, presuming it could be removed from the cell by applying a vacuum (less than 1 Pa) for a few hours.In this paper we discuss an equilibrium of several forms of oxygen in a fixed-point cell, gaseous in the cell's atmosphere, dissolved in the fixed-point metal and as oxide in a separate (solid) phase. We will conclude that in many fixed points most of the oxygen is not dissolved in the metal, but bound in oxides of the fixed-point metal as well as oxides of some impurities. To demonstrate the impact that the precipitation of impurity oxides has on thermometry, two indium fixed-point cells were doped with magnesium and chromium, which leave the fixed-point temperature unchanged. Further evidence is drawn from earlier work. All these results support the presumed existence of (at least one) persistent separate oxide phase in the fixed points of indium, tin, zinc and aluminium, which renders them eutectic or peritectic points and is a more likely reason why the oxygen content of a cell does not influence the fixed-point temperature.To complement these studies, thermodynamic calculations show how to treat the equilibrium in the cell quantitatively. Using available chemical data, a list is provided that indicates for each fixed-point metal (including the other metal fixed points of the ITS-90: mercury, gold, copper) the impurities that probably build oxides. Due to the agreement of the calculated values with the presented experimental results, we suggest excluding those impurities from the correction of a fixed-point temperature (e.g. the SIE method), unless there is strong evidence of their dissolution.

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An adiabatic calorimeter was used to measure the enthalpy of fusion of a very pure sample of indium. The new value of the enthalpy of fusion was determined to be Δfus H = (28.6624 ± 0.0076) J·g-1, where the uncertainty corresponded to a 95% confidence interval. The temperature of fusion of this sample was found to not differ from the ITS-90 assigned value within the accuracies of the thermometry used in the present study. A comparison with previous determinations is made.

The CCT has completed the guide summarizing the uncertainties in the realization of the SPRT subranges of ITS-90 between the triple point of neon (24.5561 K) and the freezing point of silver (961.78 • C). This article identifies aspects of standard platinum resistance thermometry where either data or models are lacking and further research is required. In the calibration of SPRTs, the two main concerns are the need for data on liquidus slopes for the different impurities in the fixed points and improved understanding of the impact of the thermal environment of the fixed point on the realized temperature. In the use of SPRTs, the two largest sources of uncertainty are Types 1 and 3 non-uniqueness and oxidation. The causes of Type 3 non-uniqueness are not yet understood, especially at low temperatures, and there is a paucity of data for the high-temperature subranges. In respect of oxidation, there is a need for validation of the models developed in the 1980s, especially in light of the reduced partial pressure of oxygen used in modern SPRTs. A range of other effects including vacancy effects in SPRTs, isotopic effects in fixed points, and improved statistical methods are discussed.

Results of an intercomparison of measurements of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and density of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in the temperature range between −70 • C and +80 • C are presented. The purpose of this comparison is to investigate the variability of the results among guarded hot-plate (GHP) and guarded heat-flow meter (GHF) techniques on the one hand and among GHP/GHF and other measuring instruments on the other. The primary objectives are to characterize the material properties mentioned and to quantify the effects of thermal contact resistances and temperature measurements. With regard to future use of PMMA as a reference material, reference data for the thermal conductivity are derived.