20 Degrees Celsius--A Short History of the Standard Reference Temperature for Industrial Dimensional Measurements

Published

January 1, 2007

Author(s)

Theodore D. Doiron

Abstract

While most dimensional metrologists know that the reference temperature for dimensional measurements is 20  C, very few know how or why that temperature was chosen.  Many people have thought it was, in some sense, arbitrary.  In actuality, the decision was the result of 20 years of thought, discussion, and negotiations that resulted in the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM)  unanimous adoption of 20  C as the reference temperature on April 17, 1931.  In cleaning up my office I found a pack of correspondence and documents that shed considerable light on how this decision was made by the Bureau of Standards, propagated through US industry, and finally brought to closure at CIPM.  It is a very interesting piece of history that shows the very high level of technical sophistication of metrologists of 100 years ago, as well as the deep commitment of the Bureau s first Director, Dr. S. W. Stratton to internationally based standards of metrology.

Citation

Journal of Research (NIST JRES) -

Volume

112

Issue

1

NIST Pub Series

Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

C. E. Johansson, dimensional metrology, gage blocks, gauge blocks, reference temperature, S. W. Stratton

Citation

Doiron, T. (2007), 20 Degrees Celsius--A Short History of the Standard Reference Temperature for Industrial Dimensional Measurements, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=823211 (Accessed December 31, 2024)