Thermal standards from the laboratory of the government chemist

The Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) is a focal point for the production, analysis and certification of reference materials. Within the field of thermal analysis the LGC is concerned with the development of purity standards and materials certified for enthalpy of fusion and melting point. For some time the LGC has been concerned with the significant differences in purity data which can be produced by the different manufactures' differential scanning calorimeters. This paper will highlight the initiatives the LGC is undertaking in overcoming this uncertainty in purity measurements through the use of certified thermal standards.