Under the informal umbrella of the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Working Group (MSTPWG), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), UC Berkeley, and the University of South Carolina plan to organize a round-robin on chemical and thermal property characterization of molten salts.

The goal is to have the properties of a set of two salt compositions (FLiNaK and ~50% NaCl-KCl)  measured by different groups using their standard techniques.  The same property  results will be inter-compared to understand the ability to reproduce measurements, appropriateness of techniques,  and possible sources of error.  This valuable exercise we hope will lead to: (1) Development of standard procedures, (2) generation of calibration standards, (3) verified properties (for the samples being measured), and (4) sharing of best practices in the performance of these measurements.  Some details are listed below.

1.  Sets of salt samples will each be supplied in 100 g batches by ORNL who will have processed and assured the cleanliness/composition of the material.  They will be distributed by UC Berkeley as provided by ORNL in the original, sealed packaging.

2.  Institutions/groups are welcome to make measurements on either or both salt systems, and on as many of the different properties as they wish.

3.  Participants will be provided an identification number by UC Berkeley and all public disclosure of measurement results will be ascribed to that number for that institution.  This will allow the open distribution of measurement results without identifying the institution where the work was performed. This safeguard will be employed so as to not unnecessarily point out groups whose results do not seem to conform with those of others, and therefore may have made faulty measurements. This does not prevent representatives of the institutions from publicly identifying themselves.  

4.  Ultimately, the results of the round-robin testing will be statistically analyzed by the UC Berekely, ORNL, and University of South Carolina organizers, and an ORNL report developed and provided to all participants and other interested parties.  It is hoped the work will also result in one or more journal articles on various related subjects.

5.  A schedule for completing and reporting measurement results, details as to how to report results, and other relevant information will be provided to the finalized the list of participants in the next few weeks.


In the survey below, we are seeking input on interest in participating in the round-robin and relevant experimental capabilities. Please distribute this survey to anybody else who you think should be part of this round-robin exercise.

Feel free to contact Raluca Scarlat at scarlat@berkeley.edu if you have further questions.