Resumen
The invention relates to a differential calorimeter and a method for determining the specific absorption rate (SAR) of magnetic colloids subjected to a electromagnetic field, for use in therapies involving magnetic hyperthermia and in the characterisation of magnetic materials. The differential calorimeter comprises two thermally insulated containers (1 and 2) into which a magnetic colloidal suspension is introduced. One of the containers is placed in an electromagnetic-field-generating device and a resistor (6) is submerged in the other container. Two thermometer probes (3 and 4) measure the temperature difference between the two colloids and both are maintained at the same temperature using a control system (5) and a power amplification system (7) that powers the resistor (6). The power dissipated in the resistor is the same as that dissipated by the magnetic colloid subjected to the electromagnetic field.