The kilogram and measurements of mass and force

Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Jan-Feb, 2001 by Z.J. Jabbour, S.L. Yaniv

2.6 Current Force Metrology Research

Two main efforts are now underway at NIST in the area of force metrology. They include:

a) The development of a research laboratory for the realization, measurement and repeatable dissemination of very small forces (in the micro- and nano-newton range) to address the emergent force measurement needs of a growing class of nanotechnologies, including atomic microscopes, nanoindentors, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS); and

b) The development of a testing facility to assess the susceptibility of digital load cells to electromagnetic radiation.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the dedication of T. Bartel, K. Chesnutwood, W. Crupe, S. Ho, J. Keller, L. Martinez, and R. Seifarth in providing measurement services of the highest quality to the U.S. Government and industry. Z. J. J. gratefully acknowledges V. Lee for the automation of the balances and M. C. Croarkin of the Statistical Engineering Division of the NIST Information Technology Laboratory for her invaluable contributions to the development and implementation of statistical process control procedures.

About the authors: Zeina J. Jabbour joined the Physics Laboratory at NIST in 1994 as a National Research Council Postdoctoral fellow. She is currently the Leader of the Mass and Force Group of the Manufacturing Metrology Division in the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory at NIST Simone L. Yaniv served as the Leader of the Force Group from August 1986 through October 2000. She served as the senior program analyst in the Director's Office of the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory from 1994 to 1995, and as the Deputy Chief of the Automated Production Technology Division, the predecessor of the Manufacturing Metrology Division, from 1995 to 1998. She is now retired.

3. References

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(2.) H. P. Chester and P. Vigoureux, eds, The International Bureau of Weights and Measures 1875-1975, NBS Spec. Pub. 420 (1975).

(3.) H. E. Almer, National Bureau of Standards kilogram balance NBS no. 2, J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S) 76C, 1-10 (1972).

(4.) Girard G., The third periodic verification of national prototypes of the kilogram (1988-1992), Metrologia 31, 317-336 (1994).

(5.) Girard G., The washing and cleaning of kilogram prototypes at the BIPM, BIPM (1990).

(6.) BIPM, Proc.-Verb. Com. Int. Poids Mesures 57, 15-17 (1989).

(7.) Z. J. Jabbour, Effects of cleaning on mass standards, manuscript in preparation.

(8.) R. S. Davis, Equation for the determination of the density of moist air (1981/91), Metrologia 29, 67-70 (1992).

(9.) R. M. Schoonover and R. S. Davis, Quick and accurate density determination of laboratory weights, Proc. 8th conf. IMEKO Tech. Comm. TC3 (1980).

(10.) H. A. Bowman and R. M. Schoonover, Procedure for high-precision density determinations by hydrostatic weighing, J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.) 71C (3), 179-198 (1967).