differentiëleScanning

Differentiële scanning calorimetrie, often abbreviated as DSC, is a thermal analysis technique used to measure the difference in heat flow between a sample and a reference as a function of temperature or time. This difference in heat flow is related to thermal transitions occurring within the sample. When a material undergoes a transition, such as melting, crystallization, or glass transition, it absorbs or releases heat. DSC quantifies this heat absorption or release.

The instrument consists of a sample holder and a reference holder, both placed within a furnace. A heating or cooling ramp is applied, and a sensor measures the heat flow to each holder. The difference in heat flow between the sample and the reference is recorded. For example, if the sample melts, it will absorb heat, causing a higher heat flow to the sample holder compared to the reference, resulting in a peak in the thermogram. Conversely, an exothermic process, like crystallization, will release heat, leading to a dip.

DSC is widely used in materials science, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. It can determine key thermal properties like melting point, glass transition temperature, heat of fusion, and degree of crystallinity. It is also employed to study the kinetics of reactions, assess the thermal stability of materials, and compare the properties of different samples. The technique requires relatively small sample sizes and can provide valuable information about material behavior under varying thermal conditions.