An Investigation into the Effects of Inpile Radiation and Temperature on the Leadwires of Chromel-Alumel Thermocouples

The leadwires of Inconel-sheathed, Chromel-Alumel thermocouples were irradiated at levels up to 1.5 × 108 rad/hr gamma and 4 × 1013 neutrons/cm2-s, and temperatures up to 700° F. The wires were 0.062 inch in diameter, and the junctions were maintained at 32° F. Although the radiation produced no effect detectable within a 0.2 ° F resolution, errors of 3 ° F maximum were induced by temperature gradients along the leadwires.