CRYOMAK – THE OVERVIEW OF CRYOGENIC TESTING FACILITIES IN KARLSRUHE

Abstract

Since the field of cryogenic applications and testing has become very valuable, demand for material specification and improvements in this area has increased as well. One of the possibilities for the characterisation of cryogenic materials with a wide range of tests can be found at the Cryogenic Material Test Facility Karlsruhe (CryoMaK), within the Institute of Technical Physics (ITEP) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Skills, knowledge and best practices, related to cryogenic testing, have been developed by CryoMaK for over 30 years. The facility provides a possibility of measuring mechanical, electromechanical and thermal properties of materials and components. Further it is possible to measure tensile force (F), critical magnetic field (Bc) and critical current (Ic) to examine the quench behaviour of superconducting current cables. This article describes new facilities as well as possibilities in relation to testing in CryoMaK.

Keywords

• low temperatures
• mechanical properties
• electromechanical properties
• thermal properties
• superconductivity