Ti + LiAlH4 in a Parkhamov-type Experiment

The materials for making normal heat are generally sufficient.

The problem is pushing it hotter and hotter because excess heat doesn’t show up, resulting in exceeding the materials limits, breakage, etc.

If LENR were to show up at the edge of materials abilities, the device will fail almost certainly.

Better to build something sufficiently strong, durable, and with at least 50% more heat capabilities than the normal maximum conditions. Then when LENR happens, the experiment can continue and the anomaly investigated without a panic.

GLTA

Quote from jeff

Has anyone looked into the use of SiC in a microwave oven as a means of achieving high temperatures?

The electrical (and thermal) conductivity of SiC increases rapidly with temperature. For that reason, a special power controller is usually used for such heating elements. Design of power application by microwave RF might be aided by this dynamic impedance of the heater. For example, if a resonant circuit is implemented, the Q will increase rapidly with temperature. Adjustable tuning of the circuit slightly off the microwave frequency might thus be useful in stable control of the power against rising temperature.

silicon carbide electrical conductivity with temperature at DuckDuckGo

Quote from jeff

"The electrical (and thermal) conductivity of SiC increases rapidly with temperature."

The same holds true for tungsten, such as Parkhamov used in one of his later experiments. Kanthal, by comparison, yields a nearly flat resistivity vs. temperature curve. A 300K to 1500K temperature difference for W produces a 7.1 resistance ratio whereas Kanthal produces a ratio of only 1.06. This requires that the heater power supply for tungsten must be capable of furnishing a much higher voltage. For example: A 40V supply worked fine for Kanthal, but tungsten will require a 150V supply. Selection of the tungsten wire diameter becomes more complicated because it's necessary to trade off the length of wound wire against the allowable space on the alumina tube. Furthermore, this calculation must be made assuming a certain maximum temperature. Too fine a wire gauge produces too high a resistance and does not permit the windings to cover the necessary length of the tube. Too large a gauge cannot meet the desired resistance while still fitting onto the tube. In my case it turns out that 30 ga is the optimum. That equates to 2.88 Ohms/ft at 1500 K, 7.29 ft, 111 turns and a 50% density winding length of 2.2". In my experiments the SS tube inside the alumina tube is approx 1.5" in length.

30 ga tungsten wire will oxidize (and possibly burn) readily in oxygen if heated up to glowing for long periods. The oxidation, of course, changes the resistance. Despite many Internet pundits saying otherwise, tungsten burns surprisingly readily, well below the melting point, in atmosphere. And it oxidizes rapidly above 800 C. It can be a great material if used within its abilities, and protected from oxygen when heated significantly.

OTOH,

A calibrated tungsten resistance can make a good SiC heater ballast resistor.

Yes, well thin Kanthal wires will not achieve a critical mass or density of protons and neutrons for a reactor to work. So this way is pointless.