Platinum Metals Review - Volume 19, Issue 2, 1975

A novel temperature detector, known as Matthey Thermafilm, has been developed. It consists essentially of a platinum film firmly bonded to a ceramic substrate. The film is protected from the possible corrosive effects of gaseous environments by an overglaze of impervious, electrically insulating glass, forming a device that is mechanically and thermally robust. Since the sensing unit generally does not require further protection by encapsulation in a metal or ceramic sheath, it responds very rapidly to thermal changes. The construction of the detector renders it eminently suitable for monitoring transient thermal changes in most environments.

A pressure-cycling process has been developed by which hydrogen can be separated from gas mixtures using palladium sponge as an absorbent. At a temperature of 200°C, with pressure cycling between 1 and 35 bar, and a cycle time of 20 seconds, hydrogen of 99.5 per cent purity can be obtained from 75 per cent hydrogen-25 per cent nitrogen mixtures at a rate of 6 litres/hour per gram of palladium and a yield of 80 per cent.