Differential Scanning Calorimetry-A Fundamental Thermal Analysis Tool

Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is a benchtop instrument used to determine thermodynamic transitions and heat capacities of a variety of substances. A DSC tracks the heating curves and heat capacities, with dips, peaks, and other changes being indicative of transitions. They operate under standard atmospheric pressure. PerkinElmer's HyperDSC is an advanced DSC which has the ability to prevent a substance from spending enough time at a given temperature for a particular transition to take place. Mettler-Toledo's specialized Flash DSC instrument has placed the thermal elements and sensors onto a disposable chip, onto which a nanogram quantity of sample is melted. Many vendors offer a choice of different intercoolers as well as liquid N2 coolers, each with their own temperature ranges. Researchers are making efforts to incorporate light emitting diodes or lasers into photo DSC, both to increase the irradiation rate and restrict the wavelength.