Resumen

PURATA-SIFUENTES, Omar Jair et al. Volume measurement of reference weights of pressure balances through optical comparator. Nova scientia [online]. 2017, vol.9, n.18, pp.118-132. ISSN 2007-0705.  https://doi.org/10.21640/ns.v9i18.746.

In the method for the determination of the effective area for the calibration of a pressure balance, it is required that the reference weights of the balance be calibrated in the mass quantity, in order to determine the pressure they generate. For the calibration of reference weights, determination of the density or volume of the same is required. Although the hydrostatic weighing method is the one most used for this purpose, new methods have recently emerged, such as that involving the use of a gas pycnometer. In this paper, we propose an alternative for the determination of the volume of the reference weights used in pressure balances. The method uses the dimensional evaluation of the reference weights by means of an optical comparator, which avoids the superficial contact of the weight and its volume is calculated, based on a mathematical model obtained applying the development of solids of revolution. The quality of the experimental results is evaluated against the results obtained by hydrostatic weighing, obtaining a favorable performance for the proposed method, given the assumption that the real form of the weights corresponds to the mathematical model developed.

Palabras llave : pressure balance; reference weights; optical comparator.