Recommended Practice Guide: DTA and Heat-Flux DSC Measurements of Alloy Melting and Freezing

Published

November 1, 2006

Author(s)

William J. Boettinger, Ursula R. Kattner, Kil-Won Moon, John Perepezko

Abstract

This document is focused on differential thermal analysis (DTA) and heat-flux differential scanning calorimetry (HF-DSC) of metals and alloys. A thermal analysis guide focused only on metals and alloys is appropriate because they behave quite differently than molecular materials such as polymers and other inorganics. First, metals are good conductors of heat so that temperature differences at any instant can often be ignored with the small (200 mg) samples typical of differential thermal analysis. Secondly, liquid metals and alloys are typically monatomic. Freezing and melting occur rapidly in response to changes in temperature compared to other materials. Melting and freezing transformations, once initiated, take place within, at most, a degree of local thermodynamic equilibrium. Therefore the guide also focuses on melting and solidification behavior because special methods can be employed that are not useful for a broader class of materials and processes. The metallurgist should expect a high level of precision when proper attention is paid to technique and interpretation of data.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 960-15

Report Number

960-15

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

alloy, calorimetry, differential scanning, differential thermal analysis, freezing, melting, solidification

Citation

Boettinger, W. , Kattner, U. , Moon, K. and Perepezko, J. (2006), Recommended Practice Guide: DTA and Heat-Flux DSC Measurements of Alloy Melting and Freezing, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=853443 (Accessed December 14, 2024)