A new general-purpose isothermal microcalorimeter for use at temperatures up to 200 degrees C

Summary, in English

The design and some properties of a new general-purpose isothermal microcalorimeter are reported. The instrument is a twin thermopile heat conduction calorimeter, which is designed for use up to 200 degreesC. The calorimetric units and surrounding heat sink are suspended inside a hollow aluminium construction, which is thermostated. Above that unit a second thermostated block is positioned and the whole assembly is suspended inside a Dewar vessel. When the instrument is used at room temperature and below, the thermostated units are cooled by use

f an insertion Peltier effect cooler. The instrument can be used with a wide range of different reaction vessels (diameter 14 mm). Baseline experiments have been conducted in the temperature range 15-200 degreesC. Typical values obtained during 10 h periods at 200 degreesC are +/-3 and +/-10 nW for the baseline drift and baseline fluctuations, respectively. The heat detection limit, determined by release of electrical energy, is about 2 muJ. Preliminary stability measurements have been conducted at 100 degreesC on samples of stabilised and non-stabilised polyamide film. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

• Author: Ingemar Wadsö; Lars Wadsö
• Department/s: Physical Chemistry; Division of Building Materials
• Publishing year: 2003
• Language: English
• Pages: 15-20
• Publication/Series: Thermochimica Acta
• Volume: 405
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0040-6031(03)00124-2
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Materials Engineering; Physical Chemistry
• Keywords: Isothermal microcalorimeter; Nanowatt; 200 °C; Stability measurements
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0040-6031