Types and characteristics of

common thermocouples
1. K type thermocouple nickel chromium (nickel silicon (nickel

aluminum) thermocouple)K-type thermocouple is a base metal

thermocouple with strong oxidation resistance. It can measure the

medium temperature of 0-1300 ℃, which is suitable for continuous use

in oxidizing and inert gases. Its short-term use temperature is 1200 ℃,

long-term use temperature is 1000 ℃, and its relationship between

thermal potential and temperature is approximately linear, which is the

largest thermocouple at present.However, it is not suitable to be used in

the atmosphere of vacuum, sulfur, carbon and alternate oxidation-

reduction; when the oxygen partial pressure is low, the chromium in the

nickel chromium electrode will be preferentially oxidized, which makes

the thermal potential change greatly, but the metal gas has little effect

on it, so the metal protective tube is mostly used.Disadvantages of K-

type thermocouple: (1) the high temperature thermocouple stability of

thermoelectric potential is worse than that of n-type thermocouple and

precious metal thermocouple, which is often damaged by oxidation at

higher temperature (for example, over 1000 ℃); (2) the short-term

thermal cycle stability is not good in the range of 250-500 ℃, that is, at

the same temperature point, in the process of temperature rise and

temperature drop, the thermoelectric potential indication is different,

undergo magnetic transformation in the range of 150-200 ℃, resulting

in the deviation of the graduation value from the graduation table in

the range of room temperature to 230 ℃, especially the time-

independent thermoelectric interference when used in the magnetic

field;(4) In the environment of high flux medium system irradiation for a

long time, the elements such as manganese (MN) and cobalt (CO) in the

negative electrode undergo metamorphosis, which leads to poor

stability and great changes in thermoelectric

potential.http://www.chinathermocouple.com

2S-type thermocouple (Platinum Rhodium 10 platinum thermocouple)

the positive component of the thermocouple is a platinum rhodium

alloy containing 10% rhodium, and the negative electrode is pure

platinum.Its characteristics are: (1) stable thermoelectric performance,

strong oxidation resistance, suitable for continuous use in oxidizing

atmosphere, long-term use temperature up to 1300 ℃, over 1400 ℃,

even in the air, pure platinum wire will recrystallize, so that the grain is

coarse and broken; (2) high accuracy, the highest accuracy level in all

thermocouples, usually used as a standard or measurement of higher

temperature;(3) It has a wide range of application, good uniformity and

interchangeability; (4) the main disadvantages are: the differential

thermoelectric potential is small, so the sensitivity is low; the price is

use in reducing atmosphere or with metal

vapor.http://www.tiankangcable.com

3E-type thermocouple (Ni Cr Cu Ni [constantan] thermocouple) E-type

thermocouple is a relatively new product. The positive electrode is Ni Cr

alloy and the negative electrode is Cu Ni alloy (Constantan).Its biggest

characteristic is that in the common thermocouple, its thermal potential

is the largest, that is, the sensitivity is the highest; although its

application scope is not as wide as K-type couple, it is often selected

under the conditions of requiring high sensitivity, low thermal

conductivity and allowing large resistance; the limiting conditions in use

are the same as K-type, but it is not very sensitive to the corrosion with

high humidity atmosphere.http://www.tksiliconerubbercable.com

4N-type thermocouple (Ni Cr Si Ni Si thermocouple)The main

characteristics of the thermocouple are as follows: under 1300 ℃, it has

strong temperature regulation and oxidation resistance, good long-

term stability and short-term thermal cycle recurrence, good nuclear

radiation resistance and low temperature resistance. In addition, in the

range of 400-1300 ℃, the linearity of n-type thermocouple is better

than that of K-type thermocouple. But in the range of low temperature

(- 200-400 ℃), the nonlinear error is large, and the material is

hardProcessing.
5J type thermocouple (iron constantan thermocouple) J type

thermocouple: the positive pole of the thermocouple is pure iron, and

the negative pole is constantan (copper nickel alloy), characterized by

low price,It is applicable to the reduction or inert atmosphere of

vacuum oxidation. The temperature range is from - 200 ℃ to 800 ℃,

but the common temperature is only below 500 ℃, because the

oxidation rate of iron hot electrode is accelerated after exceeding this

temperature. If the wire with coarse wire diameter is used, it can still be

used in high temperature and has a long life. The thermocouple can

resist the corrosion of hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), but it

can'tUse in an atmosphere containing sulfur (s) at high temperature

(e.g. 500 ℃).

6T-type thermocouple (copper copper nickel thermocouple) T-type

thermocouple: the positive electrode of the thermocouple is pure

copper, and the negative electrode is copper nickel alloy (also known as

Constantan). Its main characteristics are as follows:Among the base

metal thermocouples, it has the highest accuracy and good uniformity

of the thermoelectric pole; its service temperature is - 200-350 ℃,

because the copper hot electrode is easy to oxidize and the oxide film is

easy to fall off, so when it is used in the oxidizing atmosphere, it can not

exceed 300 ℃, in the range of - 200-300 ℃, they have relatively high

sensitivity. Another feature of the copper constantan thermocouple is

7R-type thermocouple (platinum rhodium 13 platinum thermocouple)

the positive electrode of the thermocouple is a platinum rhodium alloy

containing 13% and the negative electrode is pure platinum. Compared

with S-type thermocouple, its potential rate is about 15% higher and

other properties are almost the same. This thermocouple is used most

in Japanese industry as a high temperature thermocouple, but less in

China.