Determination of the specific heat capacity of a graphite sample using absolute and differential methods

Abstract

An experimental assembly has been constructed to measure the specific heat capacity of macroscopic graphite samples at room temperature. The same batch of graphite constitutes the core of a graphite calorimeter, which is currently being realized to measure the absorbed dose due to ionizing radiation. Two different experimental procedures have been applied. In the first method the specific heat capacity of graphite was measured directly, where its value is corrected for the influence of impurities. The second method, to our knowledge not previously applied to macroscopic samples, is based on a series of differential measurements where no correction for added impurities is needed. By its nature, the second method reduces systematic effects. The specific heat capacity of a particular graphite sample is determined to be 706.9 J K−1 kg−1 with a combined relative standard uncertainty of 9 parts in 104 at 295.15 K. The specific heat capacity of cyanoacrylate has also been determined.