Evidencing molecular associations in binary liquid mixtures via photothermal measurements of thermophysical parameters

The back photopyroelectric (PPE) configuration, with opaque sample and thermally thick sample and sensor, was applied in order to obtain room temperature values of the thermal diffusivity of some liquid mixtures. The methodology is based on a sample's thickness scan, and not on a frequency scan as is usually the case. The possibility of precisely controlling the sample's thickness variation leads to very accurate and reproducible values for the thermal diffusivity. The method is proposed as an alternative for evidencing molecular associations in binary liquid mixtures