Palladium, a rare, lustrous silver-white metal, is studied in thermal analysis because of its high melting point and unique thermophysical properties.
In the laboratory, palladium was analyzed using the STA L81, producing the melting curve shown here.
The measurement was performed at a rate of 5 K/min in a nitrogen atmosphere using 5.6 mg of palladium wire.
The resulting DTA curve shows a distinct endothermic peak indicating the melting process of palladium, with an onset at 1554.3°C and an offset at 1559.3°C.
The integral of the peak area, which is -157.3 mJ/mg, represents the enthalpy of fusion.
Such precise measurements of melting behavior and melting enthalpy are crucial for the calibration of DSC instruments and ensure their accuracy in thermal analysis for various research and industrial applications.
