Application of laser polarimetry to the measurement of specific heat capacity and enthalpy of the alloy 53Nb-47Ti (mass %) in the temperature range 1600 to 2000 K by a millisecond-resolution pulse heating technique

The determination of the specific heat capacity, enthalpy, and electrical r esistivity of the alloy 53Nb-47Ti (mass%) in the temperature range 1600 to 2000 K is described. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of a solid cylindrical specimen from room temperature to the maximum temperat ure of interest by the passage of a subsecond-duration electric current pul se through the specimen and on simultaneously measuring the pertinent exper imental quantities. The experimental quantities measured are the current th rough the specimen, voltage drop across the effective specimen, specimen ra diance temperature at two wave-lengths, and normal spectral emissivity of t he specimen. The present study extends this technique, previously applied t o pure metals, to the determination of specific heat capacity and enthalpy of the alloy, 53Nb-47Ti. The measured properties were compared to those cal culated from a thermodynamic description of the Nb-Ti system.