A simple apparatus for measuring electrical resistance of materials at high temperatures

Electrical resistance measurements in a wide temperature range are very important for understanding the physical properties of materials. It is often difficult to carry out the measurements at high temperatures since taking electrical leads reliably from specimens is a nontrivial problem. In this note we describe in detail a simple apparatus which can be used for studying any foil or pellet-shaped sample at temperatures up to 800 degree C in vacuum or in an inert atmosphere. The apparatus uses spring loaded pins for electrical contact, obviating the need for silver paint or spot welding, thus avoiding any possible change in the properties of the sample. The springs used for loading are far removed from the high temperature zone; the load, therefore, remains unchanged during the experiment and the contacts remain uniformly reliable. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics