Photopyroelectric measurement of the thermal diffusivity of recrystallized high purity aluminum

Abstract

Thermal diffusivity measurements on high purity (99.99% pure) aluminum samples are reported, using chirped and sinusoidally-modulated laser excitation and photopyroelectric detection of the thermal wave response. The results are found to be dependent on the degree of recrystallization of the specimen: for cold-rolled aluminum, the thermal diffusivity is measured to be α=3.10×10-5 m2/s, which rises to 3.88×10-5 m2/s for fully recrystallized samples, and then falls to 3.53×10-5 m2/s for samples exhibiting the initial stages of grain growth. © 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.