DTA curves :

DTA curves are meaningful both qualitatively and quantitatively. Same to TGA, the position and shapes of the peaks (curve) could be used to determine the composition of the sample. As elaborate previously, Eq. 11.1 could be used to associate peak area along with the heat of the reaction and amount of sample used for analysis. But before using this equation we should know the value of calibration constant, K, at the temperature concerned. This could be achieved through the calibration of instruments with known standards. Therefore, the value of the calibration factor, K, might be eliminated from the quantitative calibration through comparison of peak area of unknown sample along with the known sample   under identical condition. For instance if A₁ is the peak area of known mass (m1) and A₂ is the peak area of unknown sample having mass equal to m₂, then using Eq. 1 we could write.

m₁/m₂ =A₁/A₂

or m₂ = m₁(A₂/A₁)

Similarly, the heat of reaction of an unknown sample could also be calculated through comparison along with a sample of known heat of reaction. A single thing keep in mind which the calibration factor, K, in Eq. 11.1 is temperature dependent in DTA condition, thus both known and unknown sample should be run at identical temperature.