This paper describes traceability of large force standards up to 30 MN in Korea. 15 material testing machines of each having more than 10 MN capacity in industrial companies have been used for evaluating performances of mechanical components such as a pot bearing or an elastic bearing which is one of the important components in bridges. We have 10 MN force standard machine with relative uncertainty of 5·10^-4 (k = 2). We designed build-up force measuring systems of having 30 MN capacity to be used in calibrating material testing machines above 10 MN capacity. We have evaluated uncertainty budgets of build-up systems. Also, this paper summarizes calibration results of a material testing machine of 30 MN in Korea.

Force measurement at a resolution in the micronewton range is advantageously performed by means of electromagnetic force compensation. So far, weighing systems of this kind have been working only in a horizontal position. Although resistance strain gauge force sensors are suited to various force directions, they cannot be used for precision measurements in the micronewton range.
In this paper, an interference-optical force (IOF) sensor is described which can be used both for horizontal and vertical force measurement. The force measuring range of a specially designed force sensor amounts to 100 mN (10 g), resolution to 0.01 mN, and the extended measuring uncertainty to 0.008 mN for k = 2. The structure, the operating principle and the signal processing of the force sensor are described and, furthermore, a uncertainty of measurement analysis of the entire system is made. The successful application of the interference-optical force sensor is finally demonstrated by means of the example of the calibration of applanation tonometers.

The establishment of national calibration services (NCS) and mutual agreements between the NCS of the different countries (UKAS, DKD, SIT, etc.) have increased the necessity of the dissemination of the unit of force inside the individual countries and of standards harmonisation through continuous international comparison. In the paper the development, construction and preliminary metrological characterization of a Build-Up System (Force Transducers Pyramid Type) are described. In its construction three force transducers, in the nominal range of 1000 kN were used, individually calibrated and later together. Results are given concerning: the evaluation of repeatability, linearity, rotation effect and hysteresis.

Previously x-ray method was sometimes unable to accurately determine elements at low concentration in complex heterogeneous matrices. Other techniques can successfully use digestion and/or fusion methods to reduce samples to a dilute homogeneous form. However, when applying these methods of sample preparation to x-rax, detection limits were often unacceptable. The QuickSolve method is a simple but extremely effective manual operation that employs no expensive equipment. It requires a small plastic bottle preloaded with a fixed amount of the Environmental Sample preparation Matrix (ESPM). This ia a totally safe, fine powder with high adsorption capacity. After adding a fixed mass of sample, manual shaking with stainless steel balls produces a stable principle for the analysis of complex matrices by x-ray, that is, dilution reduces all samples to similar form thus largely eliminating matrix and interelement effects. The first group, acid producing elements, can be present at major concentrations, above one percent and acceptance of shipments may depend on the concentration of this elements. The QuickSolve calibration provides accurate determination of Br, Cl, I, P and S. Preparation of standards is from pure organic and aqueous solvent. The second group, heavy metals/toxic volatile elements, requires determination of some elements to better than 20 mg kg^-1 .The calibration cover all relevant elements from vanadium to barium. Preparation of standards is from pure aqueous spectroscopic solutions. The analysis time is up to 15 minutes depending on the number of element.

Raman spectroscopic studies were carried out to investigate the synthesis of hybrid polymers prepared for photonic applications by a sol-gel technology. The main aim was to analyse the ability of Raman measurements to estimate the efficiency and correctness of particular stages of the technological process. Parameters of measurement systems adequate for hybrid material characterisation were found. Dedicated fibre optic system was attached to reaction glass vessel and on-line monitoring was being performed during the first step of the process - gelation. Hybrid polymer thin films, after deposition on technological substrate, were studied by Raman microscopy. Efficiency and time of the most important reactions such as hydrolysis, epoxy ring opening, amine transformation, double bonds opening can be measured as well as thickness of thin films can be estimated.