Patent ID: 6146012
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A differential thermal analyzer comprising: means for outputting a sample temperature signal and a differential thermal analysis signal representative of at least one of a differential change in temperature difference and a heat flow difference of a sample relative to a reference substance by heating the sample and the reference substance at an experimental heating rate; and processing means for processing the sample temperature signal and the differential thermal analysis signal obtained during thermal analysis of the sample, the processing means including separating means for separating the differential thermal analysis signal into a peak component and a baseline component, an activation energy calculator for calculating an activation energy based on the peak component of the differential thermal analysis signal, and a heating rate converter for calculating an estimated differential thermal analysis signal that would be obtained under a thermal analysis of the sample conducted at a desired heating rate different from the experimental heating rate based on the experimental heating rate and the activation energy obtained by the activation energy calculator, the estimated differential thermal analysis signal that should be obtained at the desired heating rate being calculated based on the differential thermal analysis signal derived from the experimental heating rate.