The benchmark instrument

The Hot Disk TPS 2500 S is the flagship instrument in the system portfolio of Hot Disk AB. This general-purpose R&D instrument is designed for precision analysis of thermal transport properties – including thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity. The TPS 2500 S covers an extensive range of materials of various geometries and dimensions, and meets ISO Standard 22007-2.

The standardized TPS technique – today used in more than 1000 laboratories – is highly appreciated for its ability to simultaneously determine thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity from a single measurement, with limited emphasis on sample preparation. The operative simplicity of the TPS 2500 S and the performance achieved when using optimally designed Hot Disk® sensors, makes this system an ideal, trustworthy tool for tests of solids, liquids, powders, pastes and foams. The trademark high accuracy and precision also makes the instrument suitable for QC testing.

The selection of software modules allows the TPS 2500 S to be used in many specialized applications, from basic testing of isotropic materials (Isotropic module) to measurements of rod-shaped specimens (One-dimensional module); thin films, coatings or adhesive layers (Thin Film module); high-conducting sheets or slabs (Slab module); extremely light and low-conducting materials (Low-density/Highly-insulating module); and anisotropic samples or layered structures (Anisotropic module) – all important applications in the electronics, automotive, aerospace, nuclear and chemical industries. Furthermore, with the unique feature of being able to probe thermal conductivity as a function of sample depth (Structural Probe module), the TPS 2500 S can e.g. be used to determine whether a sample is homogeneous or not. In addition to these applications the TPS 2500 S can also be employed for dedicated specific heat capacity testing of large (compared to conventional methods, e.g. DSC) solid samples, such as complex composites.

The Hot Disk Thermal Analyser software for the TPS 2500 S system incorporates tools for automated measurements as well as automatic temperature control of external devices. It also incorporates tools for exporting results to 3rd-party software (MS Excel), for additional processing or statistical analysis. For precise and automatic temperature readings an optional PT100 temperature sensor is available.

TPS 2500 S Specifications¹

Measurement

Sample Types	Bulks, rods, slabs, wafers, sheets, foils, films, laminates, composites, minerals, batteries, textiles, pellets, granules, beads, grains, powders, pastes, creams, gels, liquids, foams and insulators.
Evaluation
Anisotropy	Yes, 2D anisotropic (uniaxial) materials can be characterised, using optional Anisotropic Measurement Module.
One-Dimensional	Yes, axial estimations possible for a complex sample configuration.
Sample Dimensions
Smallest	Bulk sample: 0.5 mm thick x 2 mm wide (circle or square).
	Rod sample: 5 mm long x 2.5 mm wide (circle or square).
	Slab sample: 42 μm thick x 8 mm wide (circle or square).
	Thin film sample: 10 μm thick x 22 mm wide (circle or square).
Largest	Bulk sample: unlimited.
	Rod sample: unlimited length x 60 mm wide (circle or square).
	Slab sample: 20 mm thick x unlimited wide (circle or square).
	Thin Film sample: 500 μm thick x unlimited wide (circle or square).
Sample Temperature Range	-253°C (20 K) to 1000°C.
Core Instrument	RT.
With Optional TCU	Cryostat: -195°C (78 K) to RT.
	Low-to-High Temperature Chamber: -60°C to 300°C.
	Bath Circulator: -40°C to 200°C.
	Convection Oven: RT to 600°C.
	Muffle Furnace: RT to 800°C.
	Tubular Furnace: RT to 1000°C (gas purging for >400°C, and inert gas flow for >800°C is recommended).
Measurement Time2	1 to 2560 seconds (depending on sample material and sensor dimensions).
Measurement Range
Thermal Conductivity	Bulk sample: 0.005 to 500 W/m/K.
	Rod sample: 1 to 1800 W/m/K.
	Slab sample: 5 to 1500 W/m/K.
	Thin Film sample: 0.01 to 5 W/m/K.
Thermal Diffusivity	Bulk sample: 0.01 to 400 mm²/s.
	Rod sample: 1 to 1400 mm²/s.
	Slab sample: 5 to 1000 mm²/s.
	Thin Film sample: 0.02 to 2 mm²/s.
Thermal Effusivity	20 to 55000 W√s/m²/K.
Specific Heat Capacity	Up to 5 MJ/m³/K.
Measurement Accuracy
Thermal Conductivity	Better than 5%.
Thermal Diffusivity	Better than 10%.
Measurement Reproducibility3
Thermal Conductivity	Typically better than 2%.
Thermal Diffusivity	Typically better than 5%.
Measurement Repeatability4
Thermal Conductivity	Typically 0.055% (Stainless Steel bulk sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).
Thermal Diffusivity	Typically 0.22% (Stainless Steel bulk sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).
Measurement Sensitivity5
Temperature	Typically 17 μK (Stainless Steel sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).

General

Meets ISO Standard 22007-2	Yes.
Measurement Modules
Included	Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, One-Dimensional, Structural Probe, and Automation.
Optional	Anisotropic, Slab, Thin Film, Low-Density/Highly Insulating, and Specific Heat Capacity.
Sensor Models
Hot Disk® sensor – Kapton-insulated	All models.
Hot Disk® sensor – Teflon-insulated	All models.
Hot Disk® sensor – Mica-insulated	All models.
Hot Strip® sensor – Kapton-insulated	All models.
Hot Cell® sensor – Cell size <250 mm	All models.
Hot Cell® sensor – Cell size >250 mm	Please inquire.
Instrument Environment
Operating	15°C to 30°C
Storage	-20°C to 45°C
Instrument Line Power
Supply Voltage	100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz.
Power Consumption	45 W typical, 255 W maximum.
Instrument Warm-Up	2 hours to rated measurement performance.
Instrument Input and Output
Rear Panel	USB type B connector (female) for connectivity.
	RS232 connector (male) for optional TCU.
Front Panel	LEMO 8 pin connector (female) for Hot Disk®, Hot Strip® or Hot Cell® sensor.
	LEMO 4 pin connector (female) for optional PT100 temperature sensor.
Instrument Dimensions	325 mm high x 455 mm wide x 490 mm deep.
Instrument Weight	25 kg.
Instrument CE Marking	Yes.

1. Hot Disk AB reserves the right to make changes without prior notice, whether due to misprints, improved hardware, or extended software capabilities.↩︎
2. Time of transient temperature reading. An additional temperature settling time that depends on the sample material and TCU (if applied) is required to ensure isothermal condition before the reading.↩︎
3. Comparing measurements performed by different instrument set-ups.↩︎
4. Variation in consecutive measurements performed by a single instrument set-up. Note that this value depends on sample material, sensor model, and sample temperature.↩︎
5. Standard deviation in fitting ∆Τ(τ)-function to the transient temperature reading. Note that this value depends on sample material, sensor model, sample temperature, and can vary considerably.↩︎

TPS 2500 S Measurement Demonstration

Stainless Steel

Sample
Material	Stainless Steel, AISI 316/316L.
Type	Bulk.
Temperature	23°C.
Measurement Parameters
Measurement Module	Isotropic.
Sensor Model	Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor 5501 (radius 6.4 mm).
Measurement Time	10 s.
Heating Power	800 mW.
Measurement Results
Data Points	13-200.
Thermal Conductivity	13.69 W/m/K.
Thermal Diffusivity	3.705 mm²/s.
Specific Heat Capacity	3.695 MJ/m³/K.
Probing Depth	12.2 mm.
Temperature Increase	0.5089 K.
Standard Deviation in Fitting ∆Τ(τ)	13 μK.

Included with the TPS 2500 S instrument

Basic Option:

• 5 x Measurement Modules: Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, One-Dimensional, Structural Probe, and Automation.
• 1 x Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® or Hot Strip® sensor: Model free of choice, with cable.

Regular Complete Option:

• 9 x Measurement Modules: Isotropic, Anisotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Slab, Thin Film, One-Dimensional, Specific Heat Capacity, Structural Probe, and Automation.
• 10 x Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® or Hot Strip® sensors: Models free of choice, with cable.

Extended Complete Option:

• 10 x Measurement Modules: Isotropic, Anisotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Slab, Thin Film, Low-Density/Highly Insulating, One-Dimensional, Specific Heat Capacity, Structural Probe, and Automation.
• 10 x Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® or Hot Strip® sensors: Models free of choice, with cable.

Always included:

• Hot Disk® Desktop App software (latest version)
• 1 x Stainless Steel verification bulk sample.
• 1 x Single-sided background insulation (single-sided testing).
• 1 x Room temperature sample holder (protective hood included).
• Instructions manual.
• Instrument test protocol.
• Power supply cord and USB cable.