1. Differential Scanning Calorimetry A bulk analytical technique
DSC:
Differential Scanning Calorimetry
A bulk analytical technique

2. What Does a DSC Measure?
A DSC measures the difference in heat flow rate (mW = mJ/sec) between a sample and inert reference as a function of time and temperature

3. Endothermic Heat Flow Heat Flow
Endothermic: heat flows into the sample as a result of either heat capacity (heating) or some endothermic process (glass transition, melting, evaporation, etc.)

4. Exothermic Heat Flow Heat Flow
Exothermic: heat flows out of the sample as a result of either heat capacity (cooling) or some exothermic process (crystallization, cure, oxidation, etc.)

5. Temperature
What temperature is being measured and displayed by the DSC?
Sensor Temp: used by most DSCs. It is measured at the sample platform with a thermocouple (transducer), thermopile (series of thermocouples) or PRT (Platinum Resistance Thermometers)
Used by most DSC’s but not the Q1000

6. Temperature
What temperature is being measured and displayed by the DSC?
Pan Temp: calculated by TA Q1000 based on pan material and shape
Uses weight of pan, resistance of pan, & thermoconductivity of purge gas
What about sample temperature?
The actual temperature of the sample is never measured by DSC

7. Temperature What other temperatures are not typically being displayed?
Program Temp: the set-point temperature is usually not recorded. It is used to control furnace temperature
Furnace Temp: usually not recorded. It creates the temperature environment of the sample and reference

8. Understanding DSC Signals
Heat Flow
Relative Heat Flow: measured by many DSCs. The absolute value of the signal is not relevant, only absolute changes are used.
Absolute Heat Flow: used by TA’s Q Dividing the signal by the measured heating rate converts the heat flow signal into a heat capacity signal
Absolute Heat Flow from Q1000 allows direct measurement of Cp

9. DSC Heat Flow

10. Tzero Heat Flow Equation
Besides the three temperatures (Ts, Tr, T0); what other values do we need to calculate Heat Flow?
Heat Flow
Sensor Model
How do we calculate these?
Tzero heat flow equation applicable for Q100 & Q1000. Uses 4 part equation using the C’s & R’s

11. Measuring the C’s & R’s Tzero™ Calibration calculates the C’s & R’s
Calibration is a misnomer, THIS IS NOT A CALIBRATION, but rather a measurement of the Capacitance (C) and Resistance (R) of each DSC cell
After determination of these values, they can be used in the Four Term Heat Flow Equation showed previously

12. Measuring the C’s & R’s Preformed using Tzero™ Calibration Wizard
Run Empty Cell
Run Sapphire on both Sample & Reference side

13. Measuring the C’s & R’s Empty DSC constant heating rate Assume:
Heat balance equations give sensor time constants

14. Measuring the C’s & R’s
Repeat first experiment with sapphire disks on sample and reference (no pans)
Assume:
Use time constants to calculate heat capacities

15. Measuring the C’s & R’s
Use time constants and heat capacities to calculate thermal resistances

16. A few words about the Cs and Rs
The curves should be smooth and continuous, without evidence of noise or artifacts
Capacitance values should increase with temperature (with a decreasing slope)
Resistance values should decrease with temperature (also with a decreasing slope)
It is not unusual for there to be a difference between the two sides, although often they are very close to identical

17. Good Tzero™ Calibration Run

18. Bad Tzero™ Calibration Run
Can see that it is bad during Tzero™ cal run

19. Before Running Tzero™ Calibration
System should be dry
Dry the cell and the cooler heat exchanger using the cell/cooler conditioning template and the default conditions (2 hrs at 75°C) with the cooler off
Preferably enable the secondary purge
Do not exceed 75°C cell temperature with the cooler off, although the time can be extended indefinitely

20. Stabilization before Calibration
System must be stable before Tzero™ Calibration
Stabilization is achieved by cycling the baseline over the same temperature range and using the same heating rate as will be used for the subsequent calibration
Typical systems will stabilize after 3-4 cycles, 8 cycles recommended to ensure that the system has stabilized

21. Example of Typical Results
Characteristics of the thermal resistances and heat capacities:
Both curves should be smooth, with no steps, spikes or inflection points.
Thermal resistances should always have negative slope that gradually decreases.
Heat capacities should always have positive slope that gradually decreases.
This cell is very well balanced. It is acceptable and usual to have larger differences between sample and reference.

22. Tzero™ vs Conventional Baseline

23. Indium with Q Series Heat Flow Signals

24. Keeping the DSC Cell Clean
One of the first steps to ensuring good data is to keep the DSC cell clean
How do DSC cells get dirty?
Decomposing samples during DSC runs
Samples spilling out of the pan
Transfer from bottom of pan to sensor

25. How do we keep DSC cells clean?
DO NOT DECOMPOSE SAMPLES IN THE DSC CELL!!!
Run TGA to determine the decomposition temperature
Stay below that temperature!
Make sure bottom of pans stay clean
Use lids
Use hermetic pans if necessary

26. TGA Gives Decomposition Temperature

27. Cleaning Cell If the cell gets dirty Clean w/ brush
Brush gently both sensors and cell if necessary
Be careful with the Tzero™ thermocouple
Blow out any remaining particles

28. Brushing the Sample Sensor

29. It Does Matter What Pan you use
Monohydrate Pharmaceutical sample
Green curve is hermetic sealed pan, while blue curve is vented pan. Sealed pan shows crystalline melt, while vented shows loss of H2O. Sample is a channel hydrate and loss of water causes collapse of crystalline structure to amorphous.

30. Sample Shape Keep sample thin
Cover as much as the bottom of pan as possible

31. Sample Shape Cut sample to make thin, don’t crush
If pellet, cut cross section

32. Sample Shape Cut sample to make thin, don’t crush
If pellet, cut cross section
If powder, spread evenly over the bottom of the pan

33. Using Sample Press When using crimped pans, don’t over crimp
Bottom of pan should remain flat after crimping
When using Hermetic pans, a little more pressure is needed
Hermetic pans are sealed by forming a cold wield on the Aluminum pans
Crimped Pans
Hermetic Pans
Not Sealed
Good Bad
Sealed

34. Sample Size Larger samples will increase sensitivity but…………….
Larger samples will decrease resolution
Goal is to have heat flow of mW going through a transition

35. Sample Size Sample size depends on what you are measuring
If running an extremely reactive sample (like an explosive) run very small samples (<1mg)
Pure organic materials, pharmaceuticals (1-5mg)
Polymers - ~10mg
Composites – 15-20mg

36. Effect of Sample Size on Indium Melt

37. Purge Gas Purge gas should always be used during DSC experiments
Provides dry, inert atmosphere
Ensures even heating
Helps sweep away any off gases that might be released
Nitrogen
Most common
Increases Sensitivity
Typical flow rate of 50ml/min

38. Purge Gas Helium Must be used with LNCS High Thermo-conductivity
Increases Resolution
Upper temp limited to 350°C
Typical flow rate of 25ml/min
Air or Oxygen
Used to view oxidative effects
Typical flow rate of 50ml/min

39. Sample Temperature Range
Rule of Thumb
Have 2-3 minutes of baseline before and after transitions of interest - if possible
DO NOT DECOMPOSE SAMPLES IN DSC CELL
Temperature range can affect choice of pans
Just because the instrument has a temperature range of –90°C to 550°C (with RCS) doesn’t mean you need to heat every sample to 550°!

40. Start-up Hook

41. Heating Rate Good starting point is 10°C/min
Faster heating rates increase sensitivity
but…………….
Faster heating rates decrease resolution
Good starting point is 10°C/min

42. Effect of Heating Rate
PMMA mg

43. Thermal History
The thermal history of a sample can and will affect the results
The cooling rate that the sample undergoes can affect :
Crystallinity of semi-crystalline materials
Enthalpic recovery at the glass transition
Run Heat-Cool Heat experiments to see effect of & eliminate thermal history
Heat at 10°C/min
Cool at 10°C/min

44. Heat-Cool-Heat of PET