Measuring heat capacity with differential scanning calorimetry
Measuring heat capacity with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Thermal characteristics which can typically be detected by using DSC:
- melting temperatures and enthalpies (heats of fusion)
- crystallization temperatures and enthalpies
- glass transition temperatures
- oxidative-induction time (OIT) and oxidative-onset temperature (OOT)
- degree of crystallinity
- reaction temperatures and enthalpies
- cross-linking reactions (curing)
- degree of curing
- specific heat capacity
- distribution of crystal molecular weight (qualitative, via peak shape)
As per ISO 11357-1 DSC is a technique in which the difference between the heat flow rate into a sample crucible and that into a reference crucible is derived as a function of temperature and/or time. During such measurement, sample and reference are subjected to the same controlled temperature program and a specified atmos-phere.
Netzsch DSC 214 Polyma: The First Classic Heat-Flux DSC for Fast Cooling
Integrated in the DSC 214 Polyma is an oval furnace with a very low thermal mass (Arena® furnace), which allows for heating and cooling rates of up to 500 K/min – values previously unachievable with heat-flux DSCs. Temperature profiles can now be realized which are far closer to real processing conditions.
