Adiabatic scanning calorimeter

An adiabatic scanning calorimeter apparatus comprising:

• a sample on a sample holder,
• at least a first heater arranged on the sample or on the sample holder and adapted for heating the sample and the sample holder,
• at least one thermal or adiabatic shield surrounding the sample or the sample holder,
• a first temperature sensor arranged on the sample or on the sample holder for measuring a temperature thereof and/or a temperature sensor arranged on said thermal or adiabatic shield for measuring a temperature of the shield;
• a second heater surrounding the first heater and said thermal or adiabatic shield configured for heating the thermal or adiabatic shield;
• at least one Peltier element placed between the sample or the sample holder and the shield, and making;
• good mechanical and thermal contacts with the sample or the sample holder and the shield, configured to be used as a differential thermometer;
• means for determining the temperature of the sample holder using the first temperature sensor, and for determining a temperature difference between the shield and the sample holder using the Peltier element, and means for powering the first and second heater in such a way that a constant preset temperature difference of a few tenths of a degree Celsius or a zero temperature difference between the sample or the sample holder and the shield is maintained,
• thereby allowing simultaneous measurements of the temperature dependence of heat capacity and enthalpy of solid or liquid samples and phase transitions therein.