Wollaston wire

Wollaston wire

Wollaston wire is an obsolete name for very fine (less than .01 mm thick) platinum wire clad in silver used for electrical instruments around the turn of the 19th century. The term Wollaston wire does not clearly distinguish the bare platinum wire from the composite silver wire with a fine platinum core.

History

The name refers to the person who developed the early technique for producing such fine wire. Platinum wire was drawn through smaller and smaller dies until it was about .003 inch in diameter. It was then embedded in the middle of a silver wire having a diameter of about one-tenth inch. This composite wire was then drawn until the silver wire had a diameter of about .002 inch. The embedded platinum wire was reduced by the same 50:1 ratio, to a final diameter of .00006 inch (1.5 μm). Removal of the silver coating with an acid bath left the fine platinum wire as a product of the process.

Uses

Wollaston wire was used in early radio detectors known as electrolytic detectors. Other uses include suspension of delicate devices and sensing of temperature.

Today Wollaston wire is used in temperature sensors and sensitive electrical power measurements.

Sources

Sources include scientific suppliers [http://www.goodfellow.com/scripts/web.wl?MGWLPN=MNT&PROG=GOTOSTAT&LAN=A&CTRY=100] where it is extremely expensive.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • wollaston wire — noun Usage: usually capitalized W Etymology: after William H. Wollaston died 1828 : a very fine usually platinum wire used for cross hairs in telescope eyepieces * * * extremely fine wire formed by a process (Wollaston process) in which the metal …   Useful english dictionary

  • Wollaston wire — extremely fine wire formed by a process (Wollaston process) in which the metal, drawn as an ordinary wire, is encased in another metal and the two drawn together, after which the outer metal is stripped off or dissolved. [see WOLLASTONITE] * * * …   Universalium

  • Wollaston — may refer to: NOTOC PlacesAustralia* John Wollaston Anglican Community School, private school in Kelmscott, Perth, Western Australia * Wollaston, Western Australia, suburb of Bunbury, Western AustraliaCanada* Wollaston Islands (Nunavut) *… …   Wikipedia

  • Wire — For other uses, see Wire (disambiguation). Wires overhead A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly… …   Wikipedia

  • Hot wire barretter — The hot wire barretter was a demodulating detector invented in 1902 by Reginald Fessenden that found limited use in early radio receivers. In effect it was a highly sensitive thermoresistor developed to permit the reception of amplitude modulated …   Wikipedia

  • Electrolytic detector — The electrolytic detector, or the bare point electrolytic detector as it was also called, was a type of wet demodulator used in early radio receivers. This form of detector was in extensive use, and was very sensitive and reliable.HistoryWhile… …   Wikipedia

  • Microthermal analysis — is a materials characterization technique which combines the thermal analysis principles of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with high spatial resolution of scanning probe microscopy. The instrument consists of a thermal probe which is… …   Wikipedia

  • Polarizer — For the photographic filter, see Polarizing filter (Photography). A polarizing filter cuts down the reflections (top) and made it possible to see the photographer through the glass at roughly Brewster s angle although reflections off the back… …   Wikipedia

  • History of electrochemistry — Electrochemistry, a branch of chemistry, went through several changes during its evolution from early principles related to magnets in the early 16th and 17th centuries, to complex theories involving conductivity, electrical charge and… …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Faraday — Born 22 September 1791(1791 09 22) Newington Butts, England …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”