Abstract. Thermoelectric inhomogeneity tests were performed on pure palladium wire using a moving temperature gradient method and the results were analysed quantitatively. The Seebeck coefficient of palladium was found to differ with the heat-treatment conditions. The variation of extra EMF was explained well with the analytical approach. The calculation and experimental results closely coincided with each other. To keep the palladium homogeneous, high-temperature annealing for removal of plastic deformation and low-temperature heat-treatment for annealing out of quenched-in vacancies should be carried out.

Print publication: Issue 3 (March 1997)
Received 23 April 1996, in final form 5 December 1996, accepted for publication 11 December 1996