PROGRESS IN EXPERIMENTAL-TECHNIQUES FOR DYNAMIC CALORIMETRY

The dynamic heat capacity of a substance is a fundamental quantity rel ated to the dynamics of the material and its measurement provides inva luable information on the system dynamics. We developed dynamic calori meters based on the temperature modulation method and the adiabatic me thod. These dynamic calorimetric techniques were applied to the study of slow relaxation of a supercooled liquid [Ca(NO3)(2)](0.4)(KNO3)(0.6 ) near the glass transition. After defining dynamic heat capacity from the linear response theory, we describe theoretical as well as techni cal aspects of modulation calorimeters and adiabatic calorimeters deve loped in this laboratory in detail. Based on the dynamic heat capacity data of calcium-potassium nitrate obtained with these calorimeters, m erits and demerits of the various methods are pointed out. Future pros pects are given. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.