An improved inverse photopyroelectric cell for measurement of thermal effusivity: application to fatty acids and triglycerides

The thermal effusivity of several unsaturated and saturated straight chain fatty acids and of some triglycerides was measured using the inverse photopyroelectric (IPPE) method. An improved IPPE cell, the use of which is not limited by the calibration range, was designed and its versatility demonstrated by obtaining values for dynamic thermal parameters (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) for the above mentioned samples when their volume specific heats are known.