A method has been developed to measure the intrinsic damping capacity of metals. A specimen is subjected to a cyclic uniaxial stress, to give a prescribed energy input. The amount of energy that is stored in the specimen is measured using differential calorimetry, i.e. the difference in temperature between the specimen under stress and a non-stressed reference sample is measured. The experiments were performed in an insulated vacuum container to reduce convective losses. The heating rate, together with the energy input, is used as a measure of the intrinsic material damping in the specimen. The method has been developed by testing an aluminium based and a stainless steel alloy. It is possible to distinguish the difference in damping between these two alloys. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.