Differential Scanning Calorimetry – DSC

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical tool used to monitor changes in a material's heat capacity as a function of temperature. For a DSC study, the sample holder's temperature should rise linearly as a function of time according to the temperature programme typically used for the study. Over the temperature range that will be scanned, the reference sample should have a clearly defined heat capacity.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical tool used to track changes in heat capacity of a material with temperature. This is achieved by measuring the heat flow of a known weight sample when it is heated or cooled over time against a reference material. DSC is commonly used for polymeric and non-metallic materials to study melting/crystallization behavior, solid-solid reactions, polymorphism, degree of crystallinity, glass transitions, cross-linking reactions, oxidative stability, decomposition behavior, specific heat, and many other material properties crucial for product development, manufacturing and testing. It is a widely used tool in various industries from pharmaceuticals, food industry, semiconductors, electronics, polymers, etc. A DSC experiment yields a heat flow against temperature or vs time curve.

There are two primary types of DSC: 

• Power differential DSC – a method in which the temperature of the sample unit, made up of the sample and reference material, is changed according to a predetermined programme, while the difference in thermal energy applied to the sample and reference material per unit of time is measured as a function of temperature to equalize their temperatures. 
• Heat-flux DSC – a method whereby the temperature of the sample unit, which consists of a sample and reference material, is changed according to a predetermined programme, and the temperature difference between the sample and the reference material is then measured as a function of temperature.

Video 01: What is Differential Scanning Calorimetry?

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Common Uses

• Drug–lipid interactions, the status of the lipid, and melting and recrystallization behaviors of the Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs)a
• Thermodynamics of nucleic acid-folding transitions (DNA and RNA)
• Evaluation of thermal reversibility of protein degradation
• Analysis of physicochemical transformation during starch gelatinization process
• Prediction of the storage life of food products
• Determination of oxidative stability, thermal degradation, and water loss in the sample
• Evaluation of eutectic point and construction of phase diagrams
• Determination of glass transition temperature (Tg) to determine the miscibility of biopolymer blends
• Determination of the cure behavior of thermoset monomers or oligomers
• Examining the effect of hardeners on the thermal properties of cured materials
• Determination of heat of fusion and extent of crystallization for the crystalline materials
• Estimation of the heat and degree of curing reaction, and residual cure

Advantages

• An easy and quick way to study the thermal transitions in the materials
• Can be used for a wide range of temperatures (−90 to 550 °C)
• A low-cost technique that requires a low amount of sample
• Sensitive identification of even a slightly weak phase transition

Limitations

• It is a destructive analysis technique, so heterogeneous materials might be challenging to analyze
• Does not detect the gas generation
• Can not provide elemental analysis
• Difficulty in the correct interpretation of the results when there is an overlapping of some phase transitions
• Constant mass of the sample is required throughout the test; evaporation or sublimation of the sample would result in inaccurate results

Industries

• Polymers and composites
• Membranes and Films
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biology
• Nanomaterials
• Food Science Research
• Semiconductors
• Electronics
• Drug delivery and diagnosis

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Laboratories

• EAG Laboratories Inc.
• Element Materials Technology
• ATS Applied Technical Servicess, Inc.
• Intertek
• Avomeen
• Particle Technology Labs
• Medallion Labs
• Innovatech Labs, LLC

More Details

• Working principle of DSC
• Uses of DSC
• Advantages and Limitations of DSC