Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 153, 115-118 (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2008-00406-8

Photopyroelectric measurement of thermal effusivity of liquids by sample's thickness scan

¹ National R&D Institute for Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, P.O. Box 700, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
² Laboratoire de Thermophysique de la Matière Condensée, Équipe UMR CNRS 8024, MREI 1, 145 av. M. Schumann, 59140 Dunkerque, France

Corresponding authors: dadarlat@s3.itim-cj.ro hadj@univ-littoral.fr

Abstract

A method based on the sample's thickness scan of the amplitude of the photopyroelectric (PPE) signal is proposed as an alternative for thermal effusivity measurement of liquids. The proposed method uses a combined amplitude-phase information and needs the knowledge of the absolute values of the sample's thickness and phase of the signal. The accuracy of the method is similar with that of previously reported frequency-scanned methods, provided an accurate control of the cell's (sample's) thickness is performed. A 479 Ws^1/2/m²K room temperature value for the thermal effusivity of silicon oil was found, with a 0.1 μm step thickness control.