Evaluating the heat capacity of solid samples:

How DSC can be used for measuring the heat capacity of solid samples. Is a particular standard required?

Answer:

For such a measurement sapphire has to be used as a standard. The Cp determination using DSC requires a run of three different tests as follows: 1- two pans empty, 2- one pan with the sample, the reference pan remaining empty, 3- one pan with the standard, the reference pan remaining empty. The pans need to have the same mass, and an identical heating rate has to be used for the three runs.