Survey of the Thermal Analysis Community's DSC-Related Reference Material Needs

OMB Control #0693-0033
Expiration Date: 06/30/2019
Survey of the Thermal Analysis Community’s DSC-Related
Reference Material Needs
To evaluate and focus NIST’s DSC-related reference material program efforts, we invite you to provide
feedback regarding your experience with and requirements for DSC calibration materials. Your
participation would be greatly appreciated. This brief survey should take 5 minutes to complete. Please
return completed survey to [email protected].
1. Respondent Information (Please fill in unless you prefer to remain anonymous):
First Name:
Surname:
Organization/Company:
Address:
Address (continued):
City:
State/Province:
Postal Code:
Country:
Email:
2. Do you utilize a DSC in your work?

Yes

No

3. Do you use reference materials for instrument calibration?

Yes

No

If yes, please list materials utilized:
If no, please skip to question 6.
4. Have you purchased reference materials from NIST?

Yes

No

5. Please specify the primary motivation(s) for your choice of reference material supplier:
Material selection/availability
Reliability of certification values
Price
Other
If other, please specify:

NIST is investigating the potential for a non-toxic, low-temperature calibration material to replace the
discontinued SRM 2225 Mercury.
6. Would a low-temperature (approx. -64 °C) reference material be useful?

Yes

No

NIST currently offers Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) and Reference Materials (RMs). SRM
documentation provides “certified” values that have been determined via a primary method (or via
multiple independent methods) and typically have very low assigned uncertainties. RM documentation
provides “reference” values that have been determined via single, non-primary, test method (or via an
interlaboratory study or some other collaboration with outside laboratories) and typically have higher
assigned uncertainties.
7. Would an RM be sufficient to meet your calibration material needs?

Yes

No

If no, please explain:
8. In general, what level of uncertainty is acceptable for a reference material intended for temperature
calibration?
≤ 1.0 °C
≤ 0.5 °C
≤ 0.1 °C
Other
If other, please specify:
9. In general, what level of uncertainty is acceptable for a reference material intended for enthalpy
calibration?
≤2%
≤1%
≤ 0.5 %
Other
If other, please specify:
10. Are there any reference materials that you would find particularly useful but are currently unavailable
from any supplier?

11. Other comments?

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suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attn: Tara Fortin at [email protected]