A multi-partner project to determine the thermodynamic temperatures of a selected set of high-temperature fixed points based on metal-carbon eutectics is underway as a working group activity within the Comité International des Poids et Mesures. The investigation focuses on four fixed-point types, namely, the three metal-carbon eutectic points of Re-C \((2474\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})\), Pt-C \((1738\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})\), and Co-C \((1324\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})\), and the Cu point \((1084.62\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})\). This paper describes the construction, pre-evaluation, and screening stage of the cells prior to their thermodynamic temperature determinations. The construction of the HTFP cells was undertaken by nine national metrology institutes (NMIs) according to instructions laid out in a pre-agreed protocol that ensures production of best quality cells. Four NMIs conducted the evaluation, each for a certain fixed-point type, and screened out cells that did not meet pre-determined selection criteria while assuring sufficient variety in the sources of the cells in the final selected sets. In autumn 2012, the selected cells were successfully passed on to the final stage of the project, the thermodynamic temperature measurement, and assignment.

VNIIM and LNE-Cnam have collaborated for several years in the field of metal-carbon eutectic points. The first action was the construction of a Pt-C cell at VNIIM using the LNE-Cnam technique and cell design. The Pt-C cells constructed in each of the laboratories were studied and compared in the past. The two laboratories have followed their collaboration work by studying and comparing Co-C and Re-C cells. Different designs and filling techniques were applied. The melting and freezing temperatures observed on the Re-C cells from the two laboratories were measured at VNIIM. The Re-C and Co-C cells were compared at LNE-Cnam in the high-temperature blackbody furnace HTBB 3200pg which was thermally optimized before the measurements. The results of the comparison showed that the Co-C cells were comparable at the level of 0.03 K while the Re-C cells showed a large difference of melting temperatures of about 0.7 K. In this article, the cells used and the methodology of the comparison will be described. The temperature differences that were obtained at the highest temperature will be examined to propose an explanation for this temperature difference.

Below the freezing point of silver, radiation thermometers are generally calibrated by implementing the multi-point interpolation method using blackbody measurements at three or more calibration points, rather than the ITS-90 extrapolation technique. The interpolation method eliminates the need to measure the spectral responsivity and provides greater accuracy at the longer wavelengths required below the silver point. This article identifies all the sources of uncertainty associated with the interpolation method, in particular, those related to the reference blackbody temperatures (either variable-temperature or fixed-point blackbodies) and to the measured thermometer signals at these points. Estimates are given of the ‘normal’ and ‘best’ uncertainties currently achievable. A model of the thermometer response is used to propagate all the uncertainties at the reference points and provide a total uncertainty at any temperature within the calibration range. The multi-point method has the effect of constraining the total uncertainty over this range, unlike the ITS-90 technique for which the uncertainties propagate as T 2. This article is a joint effort of the working group on radiation thermometry of the Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT), summarizing the knowledge and experience of all experts in this field.

Recent international comparisons [1,2] and key comparisons have shown that the realization of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) above the freezing point of silver and its dissemination is more difficult than expected. In many cases, the deviations of the local scale realizations were larger than the combined estimated uncertainties could reasonably justify. On the other hand, it must be considered that the realization of the ITS-90 by radiation thermometry is a complex exercise involving a large number of operations with many influencing parameters. Furthermore, the key comparisons need a unified approach to the treatment of uncertainties. Consequently, a rigorous standard approach for the calculation of uncertainties is necessary. In this paper three different operational schemes have been identified for realizing the ITS-90 by radiation thermometry. For all three schemes an analysis is presented of the baseline parameters underlying the scale realization above the freezing point of silver with respect to their contribution to the uncertainty budget. The paper is a joint effort of the working group on radiation thermometry of the Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT) summarizing the knowledge and experience of all experts in this field.