ASTM E230-03

Standard Specification and Temperature-Electromotive Force (EMF) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples

ABSTRACT
This specification contains reference tables that give temperature-electromotive force (emf) relationships for types B, E, J, K, N, R, S, T, and C thermocouples. These are the thermocouple types most commonly used in industry. Thermocouples and matched thermocouple wire pairs are normally supplied to the tolerances on initial values of emf versus temperature. Color codes for insulation on thermocouple grade materials, along with corresponding thermocouple and thermoelement letter designations are given. Four types of tables are presented: general tables, EMF versus temperature tables for thermocouples, EMF versus temperature tables for thermoelements, and supplementary tables.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification contains reference tables (Tables 8-23) that give temperature-electromotive force (emf) relationships for Types B, E, J, K, N, R, S, and T thermocouples. These are the thermocouple types most commonly used in industry.
1.2 Also included are lists of standard and special tolerances on initial values of emf versus temperature for thermocouples (Table 1), thermocouple extension wires (Table 2), and compensating extension wires for thermocouples (Table 3).
1.3 Tables 4-5, included herein, give data on insulation color coding for thermocouple and thermocouple extension wires as customarily used in the United States.
1.4 Recommendations regarding upper temperature limits for the thermocouple types referred to in 1.1 are given in Table 6.
1.5 Tables 24-43 give temperature-emf data for single-leg thermoelements referenced to platinum (NIST Pt 67). The tables include values for Types BP, BN, JP, JN, KP (same as EP), KN, NP, NN, TP, and TN (same as EN).
1.6 Tables for Types RP, RN, SP, and SN thermoelements are not included since, nominally, Tables 18-21 represent the thermoelectric properties of Type RP and SP thermoelements referenced to pure platinum.
1.7 Polynomial coefficients that may be used for computation of thermocouple emf as a function of temperature are given in Table 7. Coefficients for the emf of each thermocouple pair as well as for the emf of individual thermoelements versus platinum are included.
1.8 Coefficients for sets of inverse polynomials are given in Table 44. These may be used for computing a close approximation of temperature (oC) as a function of thermocouple emf. Inverse functions are provided only for thermocouple pairs and are valid only over the emf ranges specified.
1.9 This specification is intended to define the thermoelectric properties of materials that conform to the relationships presented in the tables of this standard and bear the letter designations contained herein. Topics such as ordering information, physical and mechanical properties, workmanship, testing, and marking are not addressed in this specification. The user is referred to specific standards such as Specifications E235, E574, E585, E608, E1159, or E1223, as appropriate, for guidance in these areas.
1.10 The temperature-emf data in this specification are intended for industrial and laboratory use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 22-Sep-2003
• ICS: 17.200.20 - Temperature-measuring instruments
• Technical Committee: E20 - Temperature Measurement

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E230-98e1 - Standard Specification and Temperature-Electromotive Force (EMF) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E230/E230M-11 - Standard Specification and Temperature-Electromotive Force (emf) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples
• Effective Date: 15-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D8040-18(2023) - Standard Test Method for Corrosion Test for Heat Transfer Fluids in Glassware
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7646-23 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Cooling Characteristics of Aqueous Polymer Quenchants for Aluminum Alloys by Cooling Curve Analysis
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1834-16 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Slow Crack Growth Parameters of Advanced Ceramics by Constant Stress Flexural Testing (Stress Rupture) at Elevated Temperatures
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5207-20 - Standard Practice for Confirmation of 20-mm (50-W) and 125-mm (500-W) Test Flames for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1465-08(2019) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Slow Crack Growth Parameters of Advanced Ceramics by Constant Stress-Rate Flexural Testing at Elevated Temperatures
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1350-18(2023) - Standard Guide for Testing Sheathed Thermocouples, Thermocouple Assemblies, and Connecting Wires Prior to, and After Installation or Service
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3250-21 - Standard Practice for Product Temperature and Equipment Pressure Instrumentation in Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6482-21 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Cooling Characteristics of Aqueous Polymer Quenchants by Cooling Curve Analysis with Agitation (Tensi Method)
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4611-16 - Standard Test Method for Specific Heat of Rock and Soil
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM A991/A991M-22 - Standard Test Method for Conducting Temperature Uniformity Surveys of Furnaces Used to Heat Treat Steel Products
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6891-23 - Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence IVA Spark-Ignition Engine
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1291-18 - Standard Test Method for Elevated Temperature Tensile Creep Strain, Creep Strain Rate, and Creep Time to Failure for Monolithic Advanced Ceramics
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1043-19 - Standard Practice for Guarded-Hot-Plate Design Using Circular Line-Heat Sources
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: E230 – 03
Standard Specification and
Temperature-Electromotive Force (EMF) Tables for
1
Standardized Thermocouples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E230; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
Note—Paragraph 1.1, and Tables 7, 13, 19, 21, and 46 were editorially corrected and the year date changed on Sept. 23, 2003.
1. Scope for type RN or SN relative to the nominally similar Pt-67
would be insignificant. Coefficients for the individual thermo-
1.1 This specification contains reference tables
elements of type C are not established.
(Tables8–25) that give temperature-electromotive force (emf)
1.8 Coefficients for sets of inverse polynomials are given in
relationships for Types B, E, J, K, N, R, S, T, and C
2
Table44. These may be used for computing a close approxi-
thermocouples. These are the thermocouple types most com-
mationoftemperature(°C)asafunctionofthermocoupleemf.
monly used in industry.
Inversefunctionsareprovidedonlyforthermocouplepairsand
1.2 Alsoincludedarelistsofstandardandspecialtolerances
are valid only over the emf ranges specified.
on initial values of emf versus temperature for thermocouples
1.9 This specification is intended to define the thermoelec-
(Table1), thermocouple extension wires (Table2), and com-
tric properties of materials that conform to the relationships
pensating extension wires for thermocouples (Table3).
presented in the tables of this standard and bear the letter
1.3 Tables4–5, included herein, give data on insulation
designations contained herein. Topics such as ordering infor-
color coding for thermocouple and thermocouple extension
mation, physical and mechanical properties, workmanship,
wires as customarily used in the United States.
testing,andmarkingarenotaddressedinthisspecification.The
1.4 Recommendations regarding upper temperature limits
user is referred to specific standards such as Specifications
for the thermocouple types referred to in 1.1 are given in
E235, E574, E585/E585M, E608, E1159, or , as appropriate,
Table6.
for guidance in these areas.
1.5 Tables26–45 give temperature-emf data for single-leg
1.10 The temperature-emf data in this specification are
thermoelements referenced to platinum (NIST Pt 67). The
intended for industrial and laboratory use.
tables include values for Types BP, BN, JP, JN, KP (same as
EP), KN, NP, NN, TP, and TN (same as EN).
2. Referenced Documents
1.6 Tables for Types RP, RN, SP, and SN thermoelements
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
are not included since, nominally, Tables18–21 represent the
E235 Specification for Thermocouples, Sheathed, Type K
thermoelectric properties of Type RP and SP thermoelements
and Type N, for Nuclear or for Other High-Reliability
referenced to pure platinum. Tables for the individual thermo-
Applications
elementsofTypeCarenotincludedbecausematerialsforType
E574 Specification for Duplex, Base Metal Thermocouple
C thermocouples are normally supplied as matched pairs only.
Wire With Glass Fiber or Silica Fiber Insulation
1.7 Polynomial coefficients that may be used for computa-
E585/E585M Specification for Compacted Mineral-
tion of thermocouple emf as a function of temperature are
Insulated, Metal-Sheathed, Base Metal Thermocouple
giveninTable7.Coefficientsfortheemfofeachthermocouple
Cable
pair as well as for the emf of most individual thermoelements
E608 Specification for Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed
versus platinum are included. Coefficients for type RP and SP
Base Metal Thermocouples
thermoelements are not included since they are nominally the
E1159 SpecificationforThermocoupleMaterials,Platinum-
same as for the types R and S thermocouples, and coefficients
Rhodium Alloys, and Platinum
1223 Specification for Type N Thermocouple Wire
1
These tables are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E20 on Tempera-
2.2 NIST Monograph:
ture Measurement and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E20.04 on
NIST Monograph 175 Temperature-Electromotive Force
Thermocouples.
Current edition approved Sept. 23, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally
approved in 1963. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E230–02. DOI:
3
10.1520/E0230-03. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
2
These temperature-emf relationships have been revised as required by the contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
international adoption in 1989 of a revised International Temperature Scale Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
(ITS-90). the ASTM website.
Copyright
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E230–98 Designation: E 230 – 03
Standard Specification and
Temperature-Electromotive Force (EMF) Tables for
1
Standardized Thermocouples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E230; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
Note—Paragraph 1.1, and Tables 7, 13, 19, 21, and 46 were editorially corrected and the year date changed on Sept. 23, 2003.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification contains reference tables (Tables 8–23)8–25) that give temperature-electromotive force (emf) relation-
2
shipsforTypesB,E,J,K,N,R,S,T,andTCthermocouples. Thesearethethermocoupletypesmostcommonlyusedinindustry.
1.2 Also included are lists of standard and special tolerances on initial values of emf versus temperature for thermocouples
(Table 1), thermocouple extension wires (Table 2), and compensating extension wires for thermocouples (Table 3).
1.3 Tables 4–5, included herein, give data on insulation color coding for thermocouple and thermocouple extension wires as
customarily used in the United States.
1.4 Recommendations regarding upper temperature limits for the thermocouple types referred to in 1.1 are given in Table 6.
1.5Tables 24–43 give temperature-emf data for single-leg thermoelements referenced to platinum (NIST Pt 67). The tables
include values for Types BP, BN, JP, JN, KP (same as EP), KN, NP, NN, TP, and TN (same as EN).
1.6Tables for Types RP, RN, SP, and SN thermoelements are not included since, nominally, Tables 18–21 represent the
thermoelectric properties of Type RP and SP thermoelements referenced to pure platinum.
1.7Polynomial coefficients that may be used for computation of thermocouple emf as a function of temperature are given in
Table 7. Coefficients for the emf of each thermocouple pair as well as for the emf of individual thermoelements versus platinum
are included.
1.5 Tables 26–45 give temperature-emf data for single-leg thermoelements referenced to platinum (NIST Pt 67). The tables
include values for Types BP, BN, JP, JN, KP (same as EP), KN, NP, NN, TP, and TN (same as EN).
1.6 Tables for Types RP, RN, SP, and SN thermoelements are not included since, nominally, Tables 18–21 represent the
thermoelectricpropertiesofTypeRPandSPthermoelementsreferencedtopureplatinum.Tablesfortheindividualthermoelements
of Type C are not included because materials for Type C thermocouples are normally supplied as matched pairs only.
1.7 Polynomial coefficients that may be used for computation of thermocouple emf as a function of temperature are given in
Table 7. Coefficients for the emf of each thermocouple pair as well as for the emf of most individual thermoelements versus
platinum are included. Coefficients for type RPand SPthermoelements are not included since they are nominally the same as for
thetypesRandSthermocouples,andcoefficientsfortypeRNorSNrelativetothenominallysimilarPt-67wouldbeinsignificant.
Coefficients for the individual thermoelements of type C are not established.
1.8 Coefficients for sets of inverse polynomials are given inTable 44.These may be used for computing a close approximation
of temperature (°C) as a function of thermocouple emf. Inverse functions are provided only for thermocouple pairs and are valid
only over the emf ranges specified.
1.9 Thisspecificationisintendedtodefinethethermoelectricpropertiesofmaterialsthatconformtotherelationshipspresented
in the tables of this standard and bear the letter designations contained herein. Topics such as ordering information, physical and
mechanical properties, workmanship, testing, and marking are not addressed in this specification. The user is referred to specific
standards such as Specifications E235, E574, E585, E608, E1159, or E1223, as appropriate, for guidance in these areas.
1.10 The temperature-emf data in this specification are intended for industrial and laboratory use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3
E235 Specification for Thermocouples, Sheathed, Type K, for Nuclear or for Other High-Reliability Applications
1
These tables are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-20 E20 on Temperature Measurement and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E20.04 on
Thermocouples.
´1
Current edition approved June 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally published as E230–63. Last previous edition E230–
...