CALIBRATION OF SCANNING CALORIMETERS

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.