Square modulated differential thermal analysis

KMnF3 and DKDP crystals have been studied around their phase transitions using a conduction calorimetry technique where a long periodical square thermal pulse (0.05 K in amplitude) is superposed to a heating or cooling ramp as low as 0.06 K h−1. Specific heat data obtained in the dissipation and relaxation semiperiods of the square pulse become different inside the phase transition interval. The electromotive force developed by the heat fluxmeters at the end of the relaxation semiperiod (underlying signal) is compared with the DTA trace obtained in a second run with the same temperature ramp but without the modulated perturbation. The comparison between the DTA trace and specific heat data obtained in the first run allows us to determine the value of the latent heat and to obtain information about the kinetic of the phase transition.