What is a Mineral Insulated (MI) Temperature Probe?
Both thermocouples (t/c’s) and resistance temperature detectors (RTD’s) can be manufactured using Mineral Insulated flexible cable (MIC).
Mineral insulated cable is made in a continuous process. Thermocouple wires and copper or nickel wires (for RTD’s) are encased in tightly packed MgO powder, and fed inside a continuous metal tube. The tube can be in a range of stainless steels or high temperature alloys. The formed cable goes through drawing and annealing processes to give final dimensions and properties. The diameter of the cable can be from as small as 0.5mm OD up to 3/8".
Temperature probe sheaths made from MI cable can be made very long and, due to the cable annealing process, they have a degree of flexibility so they can be bent into place to reach the desired measurement position. Ideal, for example, for large storage tanks, or monitoring inside furnaces and ovens.
Thermocouple Mineral Insulated
