Simulation of temperature-modulated DSC of transitions represented by abrupt changes in heat capacity

Computer simulations have been applied to elucidate the response of a sample to temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (tm-DSC) during transitions. Two cases have been simulated; a latent heat without supercooling (represented by an abrupt heat capacity pulse with perfect reversibility) and a latent heat with perfect supercooling or large hysteresis (an abrupt heat capacity change without reversibility, i.e. the change in heat capacity is seen on heating, but not on cooling). Because the simulation was applied to these well-characterized phenomena, the results are useful to reveal actual sample thermal responses during transitions. The non-reversible component was observed in both cases and has no distinct difference. Higher harmonics due to non-linearity of the transitions were also observed. Furthermore, by inspecting thermal response of the sample and the essential feature of tm-DSC, a new method of data analysis has been devised.