Applications of a simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry–thermomicroscopy system

Abstract

A simultaneous DSC–thermomicroscopy system (DSC450 Linkam Scientific) was applied to the study of phase transitions in rubidium nitrate and silver iodide, the oxidation of polyethylene, the thermal degradation of polylactic acid and magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, and the reversible transitions in thermochromic inks. The results demonstrated the benefits of obtaining simultaneous optical data, both images and light intensity measurements, with DSC, particularly in the interpretation of complex processes and the detection of events with small changes in enthalpy.

DSC temperature calibration over the range −125 °C to 50 °C

“…Transition temperature measurements were made using a simultaneous DSCthermomicroscopy system which incorporates a chromel heat flux DSC plate into a hot-stage operating over the range -150 to 450 °C (Optical DSC450, Linkam Scientific) which has been described recently [18]. Sub-ambient temperatures were achieved by pumping liquid nitrogen through the system using the LNP controller (Linkam Scientific) at a setting of 100% for all experiments.…”