Abstract: A temperature change is applied to at least a portion of a sample to be measured while measuring the thermal characteristic of a minute portion of the sample based on the temperature change by using infrared ray. There are provided a method and an apparatus which enable the thermal analysis of a minute portion of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin carbon plate and a process for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thin carbon plate excellent in properties such as gas impermeability, mechanical strengths and the like, as well as to a process for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-density vitreous carbon material having heat resistance, chemical resistance and no liquid and gas permeability, used in various industries, as well as to a process for producing said carbon material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-density vitreous carbon material having a sufficient thickness and a high density, as well as to a process for producing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring the thermal diffusivity in the thickness direction of a thin sample plate, which has the steps of forming a conductive thin layer on at least one surface of said thin sample plate to allow the thin film to function as an ac heater generating joule heat, applying an ac current modulated with a given modulation frequency to the ac heater (conductive thin layer) so as to produce ac joule-heating, generating an oscillation response corresponding to said ac joule-heating on the opposite surface of the ac heater, and measuring the phase shift between said oscillation response, and the ac joule-heating, thereby obtaining the thermal diffusivity in the thickness direction of said sample plate. Apparatus useful for the method are also disclosed.