Differential scanning calorimeter

A method for calibrating a differential scanning calorimeter having a temperature range for which the calorimeter has no bias comprising:

• (a) measuring the average heat flow signal by increasing the temperature of an empty differential scanning calorimeter cell according to a modulated temperature ramp and measuring the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and the temperature of the sample position;
• (b) calculating the difference between the product of the sample resistance times the sample position heat capacity and the product of the reference resistance times the reference position heat capacity in temperature ranges for which the calorimeter has a bias form the measured heat flow signal;
• (c) placing a material having a known heat capacity on a reference position in the differential scanning calorimeter, increasing the temperature of the differential scanning calorimeter cell according to a modulated temperature ramp and measuring the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and the temperature of the sample position;
• (d) calculating the reference resistance, the product of the reference resistance times the reference beat capacity and the product of the reference pan resistance times the reference pan heat capacity from the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and the temperature of the sample position;
• and
• (e) calculating the sample resistance according to the values calculated in step (b) and (d).

A method for measuring heat flow to a sample in a differential scanning calorimeter having a bias between the sample and reference sides of the calorimeter comprising:

• (a) calculating the bias in the calorimeter;
• (b) calculating the reference resistance, the reference pan resistance, the reference position heat capacity, and the product of the reference pan resistance times the reference pan beat capacity;
• (c) calculating The sample resistance;
• and
• (d) calculating the heat flow to the sample according to the values calculated in steps (a), (b), and (c).

A method for calibrating a differential scanning calorimeter having a temperature range for which the calorimeter has a bias comprising:

• (a) measuring the average heat flow signal by increasing the temperature of an empty differential scanning calorimeter cell according to a modulated temperature ramp and measuring the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and the temperature of the sample position;
• (b) calculating the difference between the product of the composite sample resistanoe times the sample heat capacity and the product of the composite reference resistance times the reference heat capacity from the average beat flow signal;
• (c) calculating the product of the composite reference resistance times the reference heat capacity from the amplitude-modulated temperatures of the sample and reference positions;
• (d) placing a material having a known heat capacity on a reference position in The differential scanning calorimeter, increasing the temperature of the differential scanning calorimeter cell according to a modulated temperature ramp and measuring the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and the temperature of the sample position;
• (e) calculating the composite reference resistance, the reference pan resistance, the reference heat capacity, and the product of the reference pan resistance times the reference pan heat capacity from the difference between the temperature of the sample position and the reference position and from the temperature of the sample position;
• and
• (f) calculating the composite sample resistance according to the values calculated in steps (b), (c), and (e).