For the small-scale lab

The compact Hot Disk TPS 500 S Thermal Constants Analyser rapidly and precisely measures the Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity, Thermal Effusivity and Specific Heat Capacity of a wide range of materials and is therefore a powerful thermal conductivity meter for the small-scale laboratory or QC testing set-up.

The TPS 500 S instrument condenses our patented and powerful TPS technology (now ISO standardised) with our elegant test and analysis software, arguably resulting in the simplest-to-use and versatile thermal conductivity meter on the market.

The TPS 500 S measures the Thermal Transport Properties of solids, powders, pastes, gels and liquids over a temperature range of -100 °C to 300 °C. The instrument encompasses similar accuracy and sample size flexibility as the benchmark TPS 2500 S and workhorse TPS 1500 (the latter two instruments are designed according to ISO 22007-2).

Advantages of the TPS technology as realized in the TPS 500 S:

• Pourous, transparent samples are easy to measure.
• Surface roughness or surface color does not influence measurement results.
• Contact pressure of sensor to sample surface does not influence measurement results.
• The method is non-destructive.
• Minimum- or no sample preparation (single-sided testing).
• Instant and fully consistent thermal conductivity results.
• Four thermal properties extracted from a single transient reading.
• No calibration or reference sample verification required (as it is an absolute technique).

Hot Disk® instrument users now number in the thousands world-wide. They appreciate our TPS technique for its unmatched measurement capability, together with its ease-of-use and simple or no sample preparation. The operative simplicity of the TPS 500 S instrument and the performance achieved when using optimally designed Hot Disk® sensors, makes the instrument uniquely suitable for QC applications, in particular automated production line QC via the capability of single-sided testing.

The test and analysis software (Hot Disk Desktop App) for the TPS 500 S instrument incorporates tools for scheduled measurements as well as automatic ambient temperature control, using our temperature control unit accessories (e.g. Bath Circulator and Convection Oven). For precise ambient temperature readings optional PT100 Temperature Sensors are available.

The TPS 500 S test and analysis software also includes automated sensor switching functionality applying our Sensor Switch Unit accessories. It also incorporates tools for exporting measurement data and results to xlsx- or txt-files, for further processing or more advanced statistical analysis. With the optional Automation Module it is possible to remotely control the TPS 500 instrument. This facilitates isolation of the testing set-up from the operator, which is particularly useful for QC-testing at robotic controlled production line applications.

Key features

Simplicity: Our latest user friendly, yet sophisticated, test and analysis software simplifies testing, making the learning curve very short. Also, normally no sample preparation is necessary. This makes the TPS 500 S a smart, simple-to-use tool, easy to integrate.

Rapidity: The TPS 500 S will test most materials in less than 20 seconds. For multiple measurements on the same sample, a cooling time between tests is recommended.

Versatility: The TPS 500 S adds powerful new features to the 500-series. For example, slab samples with thickness down to 100 µm, and rod-shaped samples of width down to 5 mm, can be analyzed. In addition, the Specific Heat Capacity of tiny arbitrarily shaped samples can be determined very accurately.

Sensors: The TPS 500 S includes three specially selected Hot Disk® sensors suitable for the specified range of materials and applications, with a respective radius of 2.0 mm, 3.2 mm and 6.4 mm.

Single-Sided Testing: When two pieces of a sample for optimized double-sided testing is not available, the included single-sided background insulation material can be used to measure on a single sample piece. This ability lends itself for QC operations at near-line or in-line production workflow.

Temperature Control: Using our test and analysis software, automatic series of measurements at different ambient temperatures (isothermal steps) are easy to perform using our optional Bath Circulator and Convection Oven accessories.

Everything to get you started: The basic TPS 500 S configuration includes everything to get you started making measurements. The instrumentation includes the Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Specific Heat Capacity (only measurements without a Hot Cell® sensor), Slab and One-Dimensional Modules, three Hot Disk® sensors, a Stainless Steel verification sample for data verification, a single-sided background insulation for single-sided testing, and a room temperature sample holder (without protective hood).

Optional Measurement Modules: In addition to the included Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Specific Heat Capacity (only measurements without a Hot Cell® sensor), Slab and One-Dimensional Modules, the optional Automation Module is available for remote control of the TPS 500 S instrument.

TPS 500 S Specifications¹

Measurement

Sample Types	Bulks, rods, slabs, wafers, sheets, fine granules, powders, pastes, creams, gels, liquids, and foams.
Evaluation
Anisotropy	No.
One-Dimensional	Yes, axial estimations possible for a complex sample configuration.
Sample Dimensions
Smallest	Bulk sample: 3 mm thick x 8 mm wide (circle or square).
	Rod sample: 10 mm long x 5 mm wide (circle or square).
	Slab sample: 100 μm thick x 12 mm wide (circle or square).
Largest	Bulk sample: unlimited.
	Rod sample: unlimited length x 14 mm wide (circle or square).
	Slab sample: 20 mm thick x unlimited wide (circle or square).
Sample Temperature Range	-100°C to 300°C.
Core Instrument	RT.
With Optional TCU	Cryostat: -100°C to RT.
	Low-to-High Temperature Chamber: -60°C to 300°C.
	Bath Circulator: -40°C to 200°C.
	Convection Oven: RT to 300°C.
	Muffle Furnace: RT to 300°C.
	Tubular Furnace: RT to 300°C.
Measurement Time2	2.5 to 2560 seconds (depending on sample material and sensor dimensions).
Measurement Range
Thermal Conductivity	Bulk sample: 0.03 to 100 W/m/K.
	Rod sample: 1 to 200 W/m/K.
	Slab sample: 5 to 200 W/m/K.
Thermal Diffusivity	Bulk sample: 0.02 to 50 mm²/s.
	Rod sample: 2 to 100 mm²/s.
	Slab sample: 2 to 100 mm²/s.
Thermal Effusivity	40 to 25000 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 10% (Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501).
Measurement Repeatability4
Thermal Conductivity	Typically 0.34% (Stainless Steel bulk sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).
Thermal Diffusivity	Typically 1.4% (Stainless Steel bulk sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).
Measurement Sensitivity5
Temperature	Typically 620 μK (Stainless Steel sample, Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor model 5501, and 22°C sample temperature).

General

Meets ISO Standard 22007-2	Yes, with revised electronics.
Measurement Modules
Included	Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Slab, One-Dimensional, and Specific Heat Capacity (only measurements without a Hot Cell® sensor).
Optional	Automation.
Sensor Models
Hot Disk® sensor – Kapton-insulated	Models 7577, 5465 and 5501.
Hot Disk® sensor – Teflon-insulated	Models 7577, 5465 and 5501.
Hot Strip® sensor – Kapton-insulated	All models.
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	18 W typical, 190 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® or Hot Strip® sensor.
	LEMO 4 pin connector (female) for optional PT100 temperature sensor.
Instrument Dimensions	190 mm high x 455 mm wide x 485 mm deep.
Instrument Weight	11 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 500 S Measurement Demonstration

Stainless Steel

Sample
Material	Stainless Steel, AISI 316/316L.
Type	Bulk.
Temperature	21°C.
Measurement Parameters
Measurement Module	Isotropic.
Sensor Model	Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensor 5501 (radius 6.4 mm).
Measurement Time	10 s.
Heating Power	1.6 W.
Measurement Results
Data Points	12-200.
Thermal Conductivity	13.68 W/m/K.
Thermal Diffusivity	3.606 mm²/s.
Specific Heat Capacity	3.795 MJ/m³/K.
Probing Depth	12.0 mm.
Temperature Increase	1.0099 K.
Standard Deviation in Fitting ∆Τ(τ)	575 μK.

Included with the TPS 500 S instrument

• Hot Disk® Desktop App software (latest version)
• 5 x Measurement Modules: Isotropic, Single-Sided Testing, Slab, One-Dimensional, and Specific Heat Capacity (Hot Cell® sensor optional).
• 3 x Kapton-insulated Hot Disk® sensors: Models 7577, 5465 and 5501, with cable.
• 1 x Stainless Steel verification bulk sample.
• 1 x Single-sided background insulation (single-sided testing).
• 1 x Room temperature sample holder (protective hood optional).
• Instructions manual.
• Instrument test protocol.
• Power supply cord and USB cable.