Differential scanning calorimeters (DSCs) are widely used for temperature, heat capacity, and enthalpy measurements in the range from subambient to high temperatures. The present recommendations describe procedures and reference materials (RMs) for the calibration of DSCs. The recommendations focus on the calibration of the response of the instrument and on the estimation of the measurement uncertainty. The procedures for temperature, enthalpy, and heat-flow rate calibration are given in detail. Calibration on cooling has also been considered. Recommended RMs are listed, and the relevant properties of these materials are discussed.
In DSC's the shape of the interpolated baseline under a peak is determined by a change in the heat capacity of the sample and the heat transfer characteristics between sample and temperature sensor. The interpolated baseline is constructed according to formal criteria, experimentally or analytically on the basis of physico--chemical assumptions on the change of the heat capacity during transition. By the example of the melting of ice this paper shows analytically on the basis of a simple calorimeter model and a synthetic measuring curve, and experimentally, that the uncertainty of the enthalpy determination depends in general on the type of baseline and is in the order of magnitude of the repeatability of the DSC's (•
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