Specific heat of mixtures of kaolin with sea water or distilled water for their use in thermotherapy

Abstract

Mixtures of clays and waters of different mineralization have been used for thermotherapy therapies since ancient times. These mixtures are the basis of the most so-called thermal peloids, which are used for therapeutic purposes in the main thermal centres of the world. The thermal properties of peloids are very important to establish their applicability and determine whether they are appropriate for use in thermotherapy. This work focuses on the study of the behaviour of the specific heat capacity of different mixtures of kaolin with sea water or distilled water as a function of water concentration. Sea water is equivalent to high mineralized water, and distilled water corresponds to zero mineralization. Specific heat capacity was measured at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature interval from 293.15 to 317.15 K, using a commercial SETARAM BT 2.15 calorimeter. This device is based on the principle of Calvet calorimetry with temperature control. Furthermore, experimental results were compared to those obtained from mixtures with other clays.