The present recommendation of the GEFTA working group ''Calibration of
Scanning Calorimeters'' allows a precise heat and heat flow rate cali
bration of scanning calorimeters, largely independent of instrumental,
sample-related and experimental parameters. Electric energy, electric
power, transition heats and heat capacities of suitable calibration m
aterials are used for calibration. The measuring method, measuring and
evaluation procedure, calibration substances, relevant influencing fa
ctors, sources of error and extensive examples are presented for all t
hese calibration methods. Besides specific problems of heat measuremen
t (interpolation of the baseline for the peak area determination) and
heat capacity measurement (interpolation of initial and final isotherm
s, determination of the true heating rate of the sample, thermal lag o
f the sample), general aspects (thermodynamic fundamentals, difference
between heat and heat flow rate calibration factor, weighing procedur
e) are also discussed.