Application Of Pyrometry To The Manufacture Of Gas-Mask Carbon -Discussion

R. W. NEWCOMB, New York, N. Y. (written discussion *).-This paper is particularly interesting to me, because it gives data on a much mooted question, viz., the serviceability of Le Chatelier (platinum-platinum-rhodium) thermocouples under severe industrial conditions. It has always been supposed that platinum-platinum-rhodium thermo-couples, used at high temperatures under strong reducing conditions, would not give long service and were subject to rapid volatilization. The fact, however, that the carefully kept records indicate that a little more than 3 gm. out of more than 830 gm. was lost over this considerable period, shows what kind of service can -be obtained from platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples,, when properly installed, and well cared for. While the writer has no actual figures on the loss of weight, etc. of platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples under service, he was told, by the man in charge of pyrometers at a large industrial plant in which over 400 platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples were installed in furnaces doing various kinds of heat-treating work, that the average maintenance cost, for materials alone, including platinum-platinum-rhodium wires and protecting tubes, was 27 c. per furnace, per month: