referenstemperatur

Referenztemperatur, or reference temperature, is a designated temperature used as a baseline for reporting, comparing, and converting properties that vary with temperature. It serves as a standard point from which deviations are measured and data are normalized.

In engineering and materials science, many properties are specified at a reference temperature, such as yield strength, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, or fracture toughness. In electronics and semiconductor technology, resistivity and other temperature-dependent parameters are often given at a reference temperature, commonly around room temperature. In chemistry and chemical engineering, rate constants and equilibrium constants are typically described under standard conditions near 25°C (298 K) and a defined pressure.

The choice of reference temperature is context-dependent and guided by practicality, relevance to the application, and data availability. It is a convention that should be explicitly stated in datasheets, standards, and scientific reports to ensure consistent interpretation and comparison.

Relationship to other temperatures is usually expressed through models or coefficients. For example, a linear approximation may relate a property at temperature T to its value at T_ref via property(T) ≈ property(T_ref) × [1 + α (T − T_ref)], where α is a material- or property-specific temperature coefficient.

Limitations include the fact that different fields may adopt different reference temperatures, which can complicate cross-disciplinary comparisons. Clear documentation of the chosen referenstemperatur is essential for accuracy and reproducibility.