The standard massic energies of compounds of 4-tert-butylbiphenyl and 4,4'-di-tert-butylbiphenyl were measured at T = 298.15 K by static-bomb combustion calorimetry. The standard enthalpies of vaporization, fusion and sublimation were measured in a Calvet microcalorimeter, or by differential scanning calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed and gaseous states were obtained from these data. The tert-butyl group increments for the substitution of one hydrogen atom in a position "4" in biphenyl molecule were calculated. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.