The melting temperature range of a compound broadens as the impurity level rises. This phenomenon is described approximately by the van't Hoff equation for melting point depressions. Measuring and recording the instantaneous heat flow into the specimen as a function of temperature during such a melting process is a practical way for the generation of data suitable for analysis by the van't Hoff equation.

The results obtained include: sample purity (expressed as mole percent); enthalpy of fusion (expressed as joules per mole); and the melting temperature (expressed in Kelvin) of the pure form of the major component.

Generally, the repeatability of this test method decreases as the purity level decreases. This test method is ordinarily considered unreliable when the purity level of the major component of the mixture is less than 98.5 mol % or when the incremental enthalpy correction (c) exceeds 20 % of the original detected enthalpy of fusion.

This method is used for quality control, specification acceptance, and research.