Temperature Calibration for Optical Pyrometry in Containerless Systems Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Application to \(\mathrm{Cu}_{100-x}\mathrm{Zr}_{x}\) (\(x=45\)–50)

Accurate and precise measurements of the temperature are important for controlling conditions in any experimental design. In containerless processing, such as in electrostatic levitation and electromagnetic levitation, the temperature is typically measured using optical pyrometers. These are generally calibrated to the sample of interest by measuring the temperatures of phase transitions. The presence of multiple heat signatures, differences in emissivity for different phases, and inconsistencies in published phase diagrams can make this difficult. In this manuscript, a method for using differential scanning calorimetry measurements for calibration is outlined and applied to four Cu–Zr alloys from the \(\mathrm{Cu}_{54}\mathrm{Zr}_{46}\) eutectic to the \(\mathrm{Cu}_{50}\mathrm{Zr}_{50}\) line compound. This technique is particularly valuable for systems in which accurate phase diagram information is unavailable or inaccurate.