The thermodynamic temperature of the point of inflection of the melting transition of Re-C, Pt-C and Co-C eutectics has been determined to be 2747.84 ± 0.35 K, 2011.43 ± 0.18 K and 1597.39 ± 0.13 K, respectively, and the thermodynamic temperature of the freezing transition of Cu has been determined to be 1357.80 ± 0.08 K, where the ± symbol represents 95% coverage. These results are the best consensus estimates obtained from measurements made using various spectroradiometric primary thermometry techniques by nine different national metrology institutes. The good agreement between the institutes suggests that spectroradiometric thermometry techniques are sufficiently mature (at least in those institutes) to allow the direct realization of thermodynamic temperature above 1234 K (rather than the use of a temperature scale) and that metal-carbon eutectics can be used as high-temperature fixed points for thermodynamic temperature dissemination. The results directly support the developing mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin to include direct measurement of thermodynamic temperature.

This paper deals with the evaluation of the uncertainty in the equilibrium value of the eutectic temperature of the eutectic systems Fe-C and Co-C in their pure state. The first step towards this is deriving the equilibrium value of the liquidus temperature of the actual impure system and its associated uncertainty, the second estimating the uncertainty in the correction for the effect of impurities. The derivation of liquidus temperature and its uncertainty from the observed melting behaviour forms the core of this study. It involves the extrapolation of the measured melting plateaus, obtained at finite growth rates of the preceding freezes, towards the plateau related to zero growth rate, i.e. to the state of structural thermodynamic equilibrium. The uncertainty in the correction for the effect of impurities will be evaluated by means of 'the sum of individual estimates' and 'the overall maximum estimate', earlier shown to be applicable to eutectic systems.

Research into high-temperature fixed points above 1,100 • C has made significant progress since they were first reported in 1999. In particular, it has been established that single cells are repeatable at the sub-50 mK level, and intra-cell reproducibility at the 100 mK level has been demonstrated even at temperatures as high as 2,500 • C. The fixed points have been used to compare temperature and radiometry scales over a wide temperature range, and are being developed and established as secondary references for thermocouple calibrations. However, before they can be fully accepted as primary temperature references, much work remains to be done, namely:(1) Establishment of long-term stability of the fixed-point temperature; (2) Development of robust procedures for the reliable construction of the fixed-point cells (to ensure routine intra-cell reproducibility of 100 mK); (3) Demonstration of long-term robustness of the fixed-point cells; (4) Assignment of thermodynamic temperatures to a selected set of fixed points; (5) Agreement and acceptance of these temperature values by the CCT; (6) Agreed methods on how to take full utility of these new fixed points into any future International Temperature Scale (ITS)-or the current ITS-90

Melting and freezing plateaus were radiometrically observed for the metal-carbon eutectics Ni-C, Pd-C, Pt-C, and Ru-C, using graphite crucibles and black-body cavities. The graphite crucibles were able to withstand heat cycles without breaking. Since the crucible material is a component of the eutectic fixed-point material, the latter is inherently free of contamination from the crucible. The temperature differences between the melting and freezing plateaus were generally less than 0.1 C. The method seems to be a promising way of realizing a series of practical reference points above the copper point.

The "Mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin" (MeP-K) was established in April 2006 to be the repository of information required to perform a "practical measurement of temperature in accordance with the International System of Units (SI)." This article describes the progress made by the MeP-K HT (High Temperature Task Group) of CCT-WG5 (radiation thermometry) in drawing together the appropriate methods for accessing thermodynamic temperature above the silver point involving direct radiometric measurements on the one hand and indirect extrapolation, interpolation, and least-squares fitting on the other. An examination of the uncertainties