Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Tests

In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method, the difference in the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a sample and a reference is measured as a function of temperature. In this method, which is a thermoanalytical test method, both the sample and the reference are kept at almost the same temperature throughout the test period. The concept of differential scanning calorimetry is used to describe a device that measures energy directly and allows precise measurements of heat capacity.

There are two different types of differential scanning calorimetry in practice:

• Heat flow differential scanning calorimetry: heat flow remains constant
• Power differential scanning calorimetry: power supply remains constant

Differential scanning calorimeters measure temperatures and heat flows associated with thermal transitions in a material. It is widely used in research, quality control and manufacturing applications, for researching, selecting, comparing materials and for end use performance evaluation. Properties measured by this method include glass transitions, cold crystallization, phase changes, melting, crystallization, product stability, cure / cure kinetics and oxidative stability. Differential scanning calorimeter technology is the most accurate way to measure heat flow and this invention is considered revolutionary.

This technology is an essential tool in thermal analysis and is used in many industries, from pharmaceuticals and polymers to nanomaterials and food products. Data from these devices are used to understand crystal behavior, polymorph transitions, curing and curing degree, and many other material properties used to design, manufacture and test products.

In other words, differential scanning calorimetry is a thermal analysis method that focuses on how the heat capacity of a material changes with temperature. A known mass sample is heated or cooled and changes in heat capacity are monitored as changes in heat flow. This allows transitions such as melts, glass transitions, phase changes and hardening to be detected. Because of this flexibility, many materials exhibit some kind of transition, so the differential scanning calorimetry technique is used in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, food, paper, printing, manufacturing, agriculture, semiconductors, and electronics.

The biggest advantage of this method is the ease and speed it provides to see the transitions in materials. Glass transition is important to understand the material in businesses working with any polymeric material. In liquid crystals, metals, pharmaceuticals and pure organics, it is possible to see phase changes or polymorphs and examine the purity of the materials. In this way, enterprises that process or distil the materials understand the heat capacity and heat content change of this material and how effective the process is. For these reasons, the differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) technique is the most common thermal analysis technique and is available in many analytical, process control, quality assurance and research development laboratories.

As can be seen, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is one of the main techniques of thermal analysis. This technique detects endothermic and exothermic transitions such as determining the transformation temperatures of solids and liquids as a function of temperature. In the classical calorimetry method, the sample is placed in an isolated room to monitor the heat intake and release in an isothermal experiment. However, the differential scanning calorimetry technique is a dynamic technique.

During tests, a calorimeter is an isolated chamber in which the sample is placed. Then the sample is heated with a certain amount of heat. The temperature difference between the sample and the surrounding environment gives information about the heat capacity of the sample and the heat dissipation and consumption of the sample. In addition, the differential scanning calorimetry technique uses a sample and reference that face the same conditions, and their signals are directly subtracted from each other. As explained above, differential scanning calorimetry is used for basic research in the academic field as well as in many applications in a wide variety of industries such as polymers. For example, detecting the glass transition, studying chemical reactions and determining the melting and crystallization behavior. On the other hand, other DSC applications are also concerned with the effects of additives, fillers or materials processing. The data obtained are also used for quality control applications.

Our organization provides differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) testing services to demanding enterprises within the framework of national and international standards, with a trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies.