Quantitative application of dynamic differential calorimetry. Part 1.—Theoretical and experimental evaluation

Abstract

Since the technique of dynamic differential calorimetry (D.D.C.) was first described in 1958 little further work has been carried out. We show that the method is capable of measuring heat changes as small as 1 cal with an accuracy of ± 4 %. The sensitivity S of D.D.C. varies markedly with temperature; this variation can be expressed by an equation 1/S=A+BT³, in agreement with theories of heat transfer. Our experiments also show that the currently accepted value of the heat of fusion of zinc is about 10 % too high.