Oxidative or organic materials

Heating rates between 0.5 and 50 K/min are often used. The smaller heating rates are needed for the larger samples, so that the thermal lag within the sample is low. Particularly if the sample has a low thermal conductivity, such as is found in some oxides or organic materials, estimates of temperature gradients within the samples should be made for the faster heating rates. Absolute sensitivities are hard to estimate, since they depend on the sharpness of the heat release or absorption and also, naturally, also on the ability of the operator or computer to separate noise from effect. Heat effects between 10 and 100 mJ/s should be measurable. 

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