Thermodynamics, heat capacity data bank

The application of the ATHAS has produced a large volume of critically reviewed and interpreted heat capacity data on solid and liquid homopolymers. This knowledge is helpful in the determination of the integral thermodynamic functions which are also part of the data bank. Even of greater importance is the help these basic data give in the separation of nonequilibrium enthalpy and heat capacity effects as will be illustrated in a number of examples. 

A DNA sequence data bank has been established, to supplement the long-established protein sequence data bank, " information from which has been used in several of the above mentioned studies. Heat-capacity data on non-biological molecules has also been entered into a data bank, and from this various thermodynamic functions of the substances may be computed. " Several... 

Varna-Nair M and Wunderlich B, "Heat Capacity and other Thermodynamic Properties of Linear Macromolecules", X-Update of the ATHAS (i.e. Advanced Thermal Analysis) Data Bank, a computerized version of the data bank of heat capacities. 

By finding the equilibrium heat capacities of the solid and liquid [Cp(vibration), Cp(liquid)], as well as the equilibrium transition parameters T, A//f(100%), all thermodynamic functions, enthalpy (//), entropy (5), and Gibbs free energy (G), can be calculated as a function of temperature for equilibrium conditions [3]. All recommended results of equilibrium quantities and parameters, for over 200 polymers, have been collected and organized as part of the ATHAS Data Bank, a part of which is available online [20]. 

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