Designation: B 84 – 07

Standard Test Method for

Temperature-Resistance Constants of Alloy Wires for
Precision Resistors1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 84; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4.2 Baths for use above 15 to 250°C may consist of

1.1 This test method covers determination of the change of chemically neutral oils with a low viscosity, having a flash
resistance with temperature of alloy wires used for resistance point at least 50°C higher than the temperature of use.
standards and precision resistors for electrical apparatus. 4.3 The liquid in these baths shall be of such quantity and so
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as well stirred that the temperature in the region occupied by the
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this specimen and the thermometer will be uniform within 0.5°C
standard. for any temperature between − 65 and +100°C, and within
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 1.0°C for any temperature above 100 to 250°C. If the tempera-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the ture range is less than 100°C, the uniformity of temperature
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar shall be proportionately closer.
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate NOTE 1—It is recommended that a solvent bath at room temperature
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material shall be used to rinse specimens before immersion in any temperature
as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate bath.
safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of
5. Temperature Measurement Apparatus
regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 The temperature shall be measured to an accuracy of
2. Significance and Use 60.5°C, or 1 % of temperature range, whichever is smaller.
2.1 Procedure A covers the determination of the equation of
6. Resistance Measurement Apparatus
the curve relating resistance and temperature where the curve
approximates a parabola. This test method may be used for 6.1 The change of resistance of the specimen shall be
wire of any metal or alloy over the temperature interval measured by apparatus capable of determining such changes to
appropriate to the material. 0.001 % of the resistance of the specimen if the temperature
2.2 Procedure B covers the determination of the mean range is 50°C or more. If the temperature range is less than
temperature coefficient of resistance for wire of any metal or 50°C, the accuracy of the resistance change measurements
alloy over the temperature interval appropriate to the material. shall be correspondingly greater.
6.2 The connections from the specimen to the measuring
3. Apparatus device shall be such that changes in the resistance of these
3.1 The apparatus for making the test shall consist of one or connections due to changes in their temperature do not
more baths for maintaining the specimen at the desired appreciably affect the measurement of the change in resistance
temperatures; thermometers for measuring the temperatures of of the specimen.
the baths; and suitable means for measuring the resistance of 6.3 The temperature of the measuring apparatus shall not
the specimen. Details of the apparatus are given in Sections 4 change during the test by an amount sufficient to introduce
to 6. appreciable errors in the results. With apparatus of good
quality, a change in 1°C in room temperature is allowable.
4. Baths 6.4 The test current shall not be of such a magnitude as to
4.1 Baths for use from −65 to +15°C may consist of toluol, produce an appreciable change in resistance of the specimen or
or equivalent. measuring apparatus due to the heating effect. To determine
experimentally that the test current is not too large, the
specimen may be immersed in a bath having a temperature at
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on which it has been found that the wire has a relatively large
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B02.10 on Thermostat Metals and Electrical Resistance Heating Materials.
change in resistance with temperature. Apply the test current
Current edition approved May 1, 2007. Published June 2007. Originally and maintain until the resistance of the specimen has become
approved in 1931. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as B 84 – 90 (2001).

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 B 84 – 07
constant. Then increase the current by 40 % and maintain at 10. Preliminary Treatment of Specimen
this value until the resistance has again become constant. If the 10.1 The finished specimen shall be subjected to a baking
change in resistance is greater than 0.01 %, the test current is treatment as necessary to stabilize the resistance of the speci-
too large and shall be reduced until the foregoing limitation is men. For manganin the treatment shall be at 140 6 10°C
reached. continuously for a period of 48 h.
6.5 The measurements shall be made in such a way that the
effects of thermoelectromotive forces and parasitic currents are 11. Procedure A
avoided. When these effects are small, the resistance of the
11.1 Connect the test specimen in the measuring circuit and
specimen may be obtained by either of the following methods:
submerge entirely in the bath. For a check on the constancy of
6.5.1 Obtain the galvanometer zero with the galvanometer the specimen, make an initial resistance measurement at 25°C.
key open. Balance the bridge both with the direct and reversed Raise the temperature of the bath or transfer the specimen to a
connection of the battery, the average value of the two results bath maintained constant at the highest temperature at which
being the resistance of the specimen. measurements are to be made. When the specimen has attained
6.5.2 Obtain the zero of the galvanometer with the galva- a constant resistance, record the reading of the measuring
nometer key closed and the battery key opened. A single device and the temperature of the bath.
balance of the bridge is then sufficient to obtain the resistance 11.2 Decrease the temperature of the test specimen to the
of the specimen. next lower temperature either by cooling the bath and main-
taining it constant at the next lower temperature, or by
7. Sampling removing the specimen to another bath maintained at the lower
7.1 Take one test specimen from each continuous length of temperature. When the resistance of the specimen has become
the material to be tested. constant, again make observations of resistance and tempera-
ture.
8. Test Specimen 11.3 In this manner, make a series of determinations of the
8.1 The test specimen shall be of a length that will give a change of resistance with temperature for the desired descend-
resistance that can be measured to the required accuracy. ing temperature range, measurements being taken at intervals
of approximately 10 % of the temperature range or any
8.2 If the wire is insulated, it may be wound in a circular,
temperature interval specified by agreement between producer
open coil not less than 50 mm in diameter.
and consumer.
8.3 If the wire is not insulated, it may be wound on an 11.4 Test at not less than four temperatures.
insulating form of a type that will not introduce strains in the
11.5 Note the temperature of the measuring apparatus at
wire when subjected to temperature changes.
frequent intervals during the test of each specimen.
8.4 The tension used in winding shall be no more than
sufficient to produce a neat coil of insulated wire or to prevent 12. Procedure B
the touching of adjacent turns when bare wire is wound on an
insulating form. 12.1 See Section 11, except 11.4. Tests shall be made at not
8.5 For fine wires of sufficiently high-resistivity alloys, less than three temperatures, including 25°C.
straight wire specimens may be used. Precautions should be
taken to avoid the introduction of strains in the sample during 13. Resistance-Temperature Equation
preparation. 13.1 Express the results in terms of the constants in an
equation of the following form:
9. Terminals Rt 5 R25@1 1 a~t 2 25! 1 b~t 2 25! 2#
9.1 For specimens having a resistance so large that the (1)
resistance of the leads is negligible, a copper wire may be
where:
brazed, soldered, or welded to each end of the specimen for use Rt = resistance of the specimen in ohms at tempera-
as a terminal. The resistance of the copper terminals shall be ture, °C, t,
less than 0.02 % of the resistance of the specimen. R25 = resistance of the specimen in ohms at the
9.2 If the resistance of the specimen is less than 10 V, so standard temperature of 25°C,
that it is necessary to use both current and potential terminals t = temperature of specimen, °C, and
in measuring the resistance, two copper wires may be brazed, a and b = temperature-resistance constants of the mate-
soldered, or welded to each end of the specimen for use as rial.
terminals. The terminals shall be placed so that the measured Temperature of maximum or minimum resistance
potential does not include the potential drop in the current = 25°C − (a/2b)
connections.
9.3 In coils made of fine wire where there is not sufficient
NOTE 2—This equation will yield either a maximum or a minimum,
rigidity in the coil itself to furnish a satisfactory support for the depending on which exists in the temperature range in question. However,
terminals, short lengths of thin glass or ceramic rods may be this equation is normally used for those alloys such as manganin, having
found across the coil to act as struts and furnish an anchorage a temperature-resistance curve approximating a parabola with a maximum
for the terminals. near room temperature.

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 B 84 – 07
14. Calculation of Constants from 15 to 35°C, the resistance-temperature curve of manganin is
parabolic and of the form:
14.1 The values of a, b and R25 may be determined by
selecting the measured values of Rt at three well-separated Pt 5 P0 1 At 1 Bt 2 (13)
temperatures, inserting the values of Rt and t in the above
equation to form three equations, and solving simultaneously where:
the three equations for R25, a, and b. Pt = %, ratio of the resistance of the specimen at t °C to the resistance
14.2 When the measurements have not been made at exactly of the standard resistor at 25°C, expressed in percent,
25°C, or at other suitable temperatures, the calculation may be P0 = %, ratio of the resistance of the specimen at 0°C to the resistance
of the standard resistor at 25°C, expressed in percent, and
simplified by plotting a curve from the observed values of
resistance and temperature, from which curve R25 may be read A and B are constants calculated from resistance measurements made at
directly. Two additional points may then be selected on the different temperatures. One method of measurement used in production
curve, preferably one at t1, at least 5°C below the reference testing is to compare the resistance of the test sample to that of a stable
temperature of 25°C, and a second temperature, t2 near the resistor of known characteristics maintained at reference temperature
highest temperature measured but satisfying the following 25°C. The resistance is approximately the same as the test sample and
relation: measurements usually are made directly in percentages (for example,
100.008 %). If measurements are made at four temperatures t1, t2, t3, and
K ~25 2 t1! 5 t2 2 25 5 KDt (2) t4 between 15 and 35°C, and the corresponding ratios of test sample
where K is, for ease of calculation, generally taken as an resistance to standard resistor are measured in percentages as P1, P2, P3,
and P4, then the constants A and B, the peak temperature, and temperature
integer. coefficient may be calculated from the following equations:
NOTE 3—Example: If t1 is 10°C below the reference temperature then
t2 should be 10 or 20 or 30°C etc., above the reference temperature for F
1 P3 2 P 1 P 2 2 P 1
A 5 2 t 2 t 1 t 2 t 2 ~t3 1 tr 1 2t1!
3 1 4 1
G (14)
greatest ease of calculation, so that K = 1 or 2 or 3, respectively.
14.3 If R1 is the resistance at the temperature t1, and R2 is P 3 2 P1 P 4 2 P 1 P2 2 P1
the resistance at the temperature t2, then: t3 2 t1 1 t4 2 t1 2 2 t2 2 t1
B5 t3 1 t4 2 2t2 (15)
a 5 [~R2 2 R25! 2 K2~R1 2 R25!#/R25K~K 1 1!Dt (3)
The peak temperature is − (A/2B) and the temperature coeffi-
cient between temperature t and the peak temperature in
b 5 [K ~R1 2 R25! 1 ~R2 2 R25!#/R25K~K 1 1!~Dt!2 (4)
percent per degree Celsius is (A + 2Bt)/2. Then
a 5 ~A 1 50B!/100 (16)
If K = 1, this simplifies to:
a 5 ~R2 2 R1!/2R25 Dt (5) b 5 B/100 (17)

b 5 ~R1 1 R2 2 2R25!/2R25~Dt!2 (6) 15. Procedure A—Report

15.1 Report the following information:
If, instead of measuring the actual resistances at the different 15.1.1 Identification of specimen,
temperatures, the change in resistance relative to the resistance 15.1.2 Description of material and its insulation,
at 25°C is measured, the above equations take a slightly 15.1.3 Length of wire in specimen and approximate resis-
different form, as follows: Let DR1 represent the change in tance,
resistance in ohms per ohm in going from 25°C to t1, and DR2 15.1.4 Tabular list of resistances and temperatures in the
the similar change in going from 25°C to t2. That is: order taken,
DR1 5 ~R1 2 R25!/R25 (7) 15.1.5 Temperature of measuring apparatus and room at
start and finish of test,
and 15.1.6 Values of t and D R used in calculating a and b,
DR2 5 ~R2 2 R25!/R25 (8) 15.1.7 Values calculated for the temperature-resistance con-
Then stants a and b, and
15.1.8 Temperature of the specimen at which the change of
a 5 ~DR2 2 K2DR1!/K ~K 1 1!Dt (9) resistance with temperature is zero, if such occurs within the
measured range.
b 5 ~KDR1 1 DR2!/K ~K 1 1!~Dt!2 (10)
16. Procedure B—Report
If K = 1, this simplifies to:
16.1 Report the following information:
a 5 ~R2 2 DR1!/2Dt (11)
16.1.1 Identification of specimen,
16.1.2 Description of material and its insulation,
b 5 ~DR1 1 DR2!/1~Dt!2 (12) 16.1.3 Length of wire in specimen and approximate resis-
NOTE 4—A useful alternative method of calculation is presented as tance,
follows: The resistance-temperature equation is referred to 0°C, and 16.1.4 Tabular list of resistance and temperatures in the
relative resistance values are used. For example, over the useful range order taken,

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 B 84 – 07
TABLE 1 Illustrative Form for Reporting Test Data and Calculations
NOTE 1—The following table, with test values inserted for purpose of illustration, is only a suggested form for recording test data and calculations on
temperature-resistance characteristics.

Material Manganin, Specimen No. 1. From Shipment Received ... Jan. 14, 1936
Maker John Doe
Size 0.010 in. Approximate Resistance of Specimen ... 100 V
Insulation Double Silk. Length of Wire ... 11.4 m.
Record of Test

Order of Measurement Temperature, °C Resistance, AV DRt 3 10−6 = [(Rt − R25)/R25] 3 10−6

B
1 25 99.8743 ...
2 80 99.7336 −1403
3 65 99.7936 −803
4 50 99.8391 −348
5 30 99.8671 −68
6 25 99.8717 −22
7 20 99.8739 0
8 15 99.8735 −4
9 25 99.8707 −32
10 B 99.8739 ...
A
If the method of measurement is such that D Rt is measured directly, this column may be omitted.
B
Indicates stability only, not used in calculation.
Calculations
Original Supplementary

−6
Temperature,° C DRt 3 10 Temperature,° C DRt 3 10−6
25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . −32 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . −4
65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . −803 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . −1403
Dt = 10 Dt = 5
K=4 K = 11
a = −1.46 a = −1.40
b = −0.47 b = −0.44
Average a = −1.4 3 10− 6
Average b = −0.45 3 10− 6
Temperature for maximum resistance = 25°C (a/2b) = 23.4°C.

16.1.5 Temperature of measuring apparatus and room at 17. Record

start and finish of test, and 17.1 The measurements shall be recorded on a data sheet
16.1.6 Values of temperature coefficient of resistance in similar to that shown in Table 1.
microhms per ohm per degree Celsius or parts per million per
degree Celsius. These values shall be calculated for each test 18. Precision and Bias
temperature, using the following equation:
18.1 The instrumentation and operator’s skill play a large
Mean temperature coefficient of resistance over specified
temperature interval
part in the precision and bias attainable. There are no data
available to determine a precision and bias figure for this test
5 [~R1 2 R25!/R25~T1 2 25!# 3 106 (18)
method.
where:
R1 = resistance of specimen at test temperature, V , 19. Keywords
R25 = resistance of specimen at 25°C, V, and 19.1 resistance change; resistance constants; resistors; resis-
T1 = temperature of the bath, °C.
tor wire; temperature coefficient; temperature resistance

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 B 84 – 07
APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. ALTERNATIVE COMPUTATIONS

X1.1 Another useful alternative for computing the value of T.C. 5 a 1 2b~T 2 25!
a and b is: For a given piece of manganin, if the resistances at
three different appropriate temperatures (one of which is 25°C) X1.1.3 The resistor whose temperature coefficient data is
are known, they may be substituted into the equation of Section being determined is measured at three temperatures as follows:
11 to form two equations. These two equations may be solved Tm T25 Tn
simultaneously for a and b as follows: Wire-grade manganin 17°C 25°C 32°C
Shunt-grade manganin 40°C 25°C 50°C
~Pn 2 P25! ~Pm 2 P25!
~Tn 2 25!
2 T 2 25
!
All temperatures must be held to 60.2°C.
m
b5
~Tn 2 Tm!
X1.1.4 The resistance values are measured and recorded in
terms of differences from another resistor (such as an NIST or
Reichenshalt design) expressed in parts per million. The values
a 5 [~Pn 2 P25!/~Tn 2 25!# 2 b~Tn 2 25!
are designated Pm and Pn corresponding to Tm and Tn.
where: X1.1.5 The resolution of the resistance determination must
Pn = resistance difference from a nominal value be 1 ppm or better for wire-grade manganin. The resolution of
(expressed in parts per million) at temperature the resistance determination must be 5 ppm or better for
Tn(°C), shunt-grade manganin.
Pm = resistance difference from a nominal value X1.1.6 After the resistance values at the three temperatures
(expressed in parts per million) at temperature have been obtained, the values and the temperatures are
Tm(°C), substituted into the equations for b and a to obtain the
P25 = resistance difference from a nominal value numerical values of b and a .
(expressed in parts per million) at 25°C, and X1.1.7 If the determination of a and b are to conform with
a and b = constants (a expressed in ppm/°C; b in ppm/ this specification, measurements at four temperatures will have
(°C) 2). to be made. The computation of a and b shall be made using
X1.1.1 As before, the temperature of peak resistance in three of the four temperatures and their corresponding resis-
degrees Celsius is: tance differences. A second computation of a and b shall be
made using three of the four temperatures, one of which is the
Tmax 5 25 2 ~a/2b!~dc!
one not used in the preceding section. This computation of a
and b using different Tm’s (or Tn’s) will ensure that no mistake
X1.1.2 The temperature coefficient (T.C.) in parts per mil- has been made. Differences between the two values of eithera
lion per degree Celsius at any temperature is: or b shall not exceed 10 %.

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