Basing on a quantitative analysis of DTA heat flow measurements the co
mpositions of eutectic and peritectic reactions in complicated systems
can be sensitively determined. In addition to the conventionally used
DTA onset temperatures, the quantitative analysis of the correspondin
g heat flows provides important further information which significantl
y improve the determination of phase relations in complicated systems.
The general concept is demonstrated for simple model systems. The sen
sitivity of detection and the separability of the DTA events will be d
iscussed in detail. The applicability of the method is proved for two
complicated examples from the Y-Ba-Cu-O system: (1) the quasibinary se
ction YBa2Cu3O7-delta-BaCuO2 and (2) the ternary eutectics YBa2Cu3O7-d
elta-BaCuO2-CuO.