Differential scanning calorimetry is a very useful thermal analytical technique that can be used to analyze thermal properties of a material system. DSC measures the difference in the amount of energy required to heat a sample and a reference at the same rate. Modulated DSC is a technique that uses a sinusoidal temperature oscillation which separates the total heat flow into reversing and non-reversing components. The reversing heat flow contains heat capacity events such as melting and glass transition. The non-reversing heat flow contains kinetic events like curing, decomposition, and crystallization. This technique not only separates the heat flow components, but is also more accurate at measuring heat capacity, crystallinity, and phase change temperatures.

Typical Experimental Results

PE sample tested with modulated DSC

Applications

Crystallization

Curing


Differential Scanning Calorimetry


Glass Transition Temperature

Latent Heat Determination

Magnetic Transitions

Phase Diagrams

Phase Transition Temperatures

Polymerization

Solid-Gas Reactions

Solid-Liquid Reactions

Solid-Solid Reactions

Solid-Solid Transition

Specific Heat Determination

Transition Enthalpy

Instrument: TA Instruments Q2000 mDSC

Instrument Key Specifications

Temperature Range

-90 – 550 oC

Temperature Accuracy

0.1 oC

Temperature Precision

0.01 oC

Environmental Control

Oxidative, Reducing, or Inert Atmosphere

DSC Baseline Reproducibility

10 μW

Sensitivity

0.2 μW

Dynamic Measuring Range

500 mW

For more information, please see our applications notes:
All application notes can be found here

ASTM Standards

ASTMTitle Link
E2602 Standard Test Methods for the Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature by Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry Link
E2716 Standard Test Method for Determining Specific Heat Capacity by Sinusoidal Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry Link
E1952 Standard Test Method for Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity by Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry   Link