Introduction isothermal calorimetry

Potential applications of thermal analysis and calorimetry to quality control is not limited in any way to those discussed in this chapter. Once some physical or chemical characteristic of a material or process is known and can be examined and/or characterized by these techniques, it is only the imagination that limits the possibilities for quality control applications. Both traditional techniques (DSC, TG, DMA, isothermal calorimetry, etc.) and non-traditional techniques (temperature modeling, etc.) have been shown to have potential uses for quality control. With the introduction of many new techniques (fast scanning DSC, sample controlled thermal analysis (SCTA), modulated and other temperature programmed techniques, etc.), many more new opportunities will arise for providing quality control tools. 

Note The terms isothermal and adiabatic as applied to reactions (and reaction calorimeters) do not have the same meaning here as when used by thermochemists. The excellent introduction to reaction calorimetry by Skinner, Sturtevant and Sunner should be consulted (Skinner et al., 1962). 

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has long been recognized as a useful tool for the evaluation of binding constants [51]. The field of calorimetry changed markedly during the early 1990s with the introduction of commercial titration microcalorimeters [52]. These devices, available from several suppliers, operate with volumes near one to two milliliters. Virtually all the data reported to date on the thermody-... 

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