QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS OF DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY

The quantitative performance of differential scanning calorimeters is reviewed. Temperature calibration is discussed in terms of an isotherm al correction plus a contribution from thermal lag, this can be derive d from individual curves and is valid in both, heating and cooling. It is emphasised that baselines that are drawn to thermal events, such a s melting and transition phenomena, must have thermodynamic significan ce and a general procedure is suggested. When this is used, a power co mpensation calorimeter calibrated for heat-capacity work can reproduce heats of fusion and transition for a diverse range of materials to be tter than 1%. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.