Experimental investigation into the heat capacity measurement using an modulated DSC

Experiments using a commercial modulated DSC (MDSC) for the measurement of specific heat capacity of a sample have been carried out. It is found that because the amplitude of heat flow of MDSC is a complicated non-linear function of various experimental conditions such as the modulation frequency and the heat capacities of a sample and pan, the methodology of heat capacity determination using an MDSC in a single run has not been justified. The experimental results, on the other hand, agree with the theoretical equation of one of the authors. It is therefore concluded that the capabilities of MDSC should be further examined.     

Modulated DSC as a tool for polyethylene structure characterization

The Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimeter (MDSC) technique, using TA Q1000 instrument, has been applied as a tool to study the reversible and non-reversible heat flow characteristics of a wide range of polyethylenes. It was found that the heat flow characteristic is dependent upon the heating rates and modulation period used in the test. By using a set of standard test conditions, MDSC was found to be useful in studying the effect of previous thermal processing conditions, additive effects, and also the density, MI, type of comonomer, and molecular architecture.     

调制差示扫描量热法研究玻璃化转变温度

对比了DSC与MDSC试验技术的差别， 列举了MDSC的优点，MDSC不但可以给出普通DSC的所有信息，而且给出更多的普通DSC无法提供的信息。MDSC特别适合于复杂转变、弱的转变分析，可以寻找出隐藏在熔融及结晶过程中的玻璃化转变。MDSC对于试验条件的选择比较苛刻，在选择好基本的试验参数的前提下，还需要设置调制周期、调制振幅等参数。     

Isothermal crystallization of concentrated amorphous starch systems measured by modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The slow isothermal crystallization of concentrated amorphous starch systems is measured by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC). It can be followed continuously by the evolution (stepwise decrease) of the MDSC heat capacity signal (Cp), as confirmed with data from X-ray diffractometry, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and conventional Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Isothermal MDSC measurements enable a systematic study of the slow crystallization process of a concentrated starch system, such as a pregelatinized waxy corn starch with 24 wt % water and 76 wt % starch. After isothermal crystallization, a broad melting endotherm with a bimodal distribution is observed, starting about 10°C beyond the crystallization temperature. The bulk glass transition temperature (T_g) decreases about 15°C during crystallization. The isothermal crystallization rate goes through a maximum as a function of crystallization time. The maximum rate is characterized by the time at the local extreme in the derivative of Cp (t_max), or by the time to reach half the decrease in Cp (t_1/2). Both t_max and t_1/2 show a bell-shaped curve as a function of crystallization temperature. The temperature of maximum crystallization rate, for the system studied, lies as high as 75°C. This is approximately 65°C above the initial value of T_g. Normalized Cp curves indicate the temperature dependence of the starch crystallization mechanism. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2881–2892, 1999     

Heat capacity measurement by modulated DSC at constant temperature

The mathematical equations for step-wise measurement of heat capacity (C _p ) by modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) are discussed for the conditions of negligible temperature gradients within sample and reference. Using a commercial MDSC, applications are evaluated and the limits explored. This new technique permits the determination ofC _p by keeping the sample continually close to equilibrium, a condition conventional DSC is unable to meet. Heat capacity is measured at ‘practically isothermal condition’ (often changing not more than ±1 K). The method provides data with good precision. The effects of sample mass, amplitude and frequency of temperature modulation were studied and methods for optimizing the instrument are proposed. The correction for the differences in sample and reference heating rates, needed for high-precision data by standard DSC, do not apply for this method. Presented in preliminary from at the 22nd NATAS Conference in Denver, CO 9/19-22/93 (Proceedings, pages 59–64, editor K. R. Williams).     

Melting and glass transitions in paraffinic and naphthenic oils

Naphthenic and paraffinic oils were analyzed by modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). The results showed several improvements in the analysis of thermal properties when compared with standard DSC. The glass transition temperature (T_g), the enthalpy relaxation at T_g, and the melting endotherms could be deconvoluted, and reversible melting could be identified. This allowed for an easier interpretation of the thermal properties of the oils. With MDSC, the T_gs in mineral oils were found to coincide with endothermic enthalpy relaxation, which is generally regarded as a melting endotherm with standard DSC. A decrease in heat capacity after T_g was attributed to the existence of rigid amorphous material. From Δc_p at T_g and the oil molecular weight, the number of repeat units in the oil chains was estimated at less than 20. The T_g of a hypothetical pure aromatic oil was found to be similar to that for petroleum asphaltenes, and that for a naphthenic oil of infinite molecular weight to be similar to that of petroleum resins.     

Application of heat flow calorimetry to the study of oilwell cements

The majority of previous studies of the hydration of cements using heat flow calorimetry have been carried out isothermally. However, with oilwell cements the slurry is mixed on the surface at ambient temperature and then gradually increases in temperature as it is pumped down the well. A Setaram C-80 calorimeter has been used to simulate the temperature ramp in API oilwell cement test schedules. This approach has enabled cementing reactions to be studied for the first time under conditions approaching those encountered in the field, and has shown that the results obtained from isothermal experiments may be misleading.The permission of the British Petroleum Company PLC to publish this paper is gratefully acknowledged.     

调制式差示扫描量热法在高分子研究中的应用

介绍了调制式差示扫描量热法(MDSC)的工作原理及其作为一种新的热分析手段的优点。并通过一些实例介绍了MDSC法在高分子研究中的应用。     

Specific heat measurements under non-equilibrium conditions

The application of conduction calorimetry for specific heat measurements on samples under non-equilibrium conditions is reviewed.The influence of a constant rate of temperature decrease on the specific heatc of a TGS ferroelectric crystal doped with a small quantity ofL-alanine (LATGS) is discussed. The relaxation process ofc is likewise analysed.The simultaneous measurement ofc and the dissipative heat powerQ in a LATGS crystal in an alternative electric field which produces hysteresis loops is also discussed. It is shown that this specific heat is the sum of the corresponding equilibrium values plus a term proportional to the derivative ofQ with respect to temperature.     

High-precision adiabatic calorimetry and the specific heat of cyclopentane at low temperature

We describe a fully automated adiabatic calorimeter designed for high-precision covering the temperature range 15 to 300 K. Initial measurements were performed on synthetic sapphire (20 g). The statistical error of the apparatus estimated from the scattering of theC _p data of sapphire is about 0.1% and the average absolute error of specific heat between 100 and 300 K was 0.7% compared to values given in the literature. The heat capacity and the three phase transitions of cyclopentane (C₅H₁₀) which is recommended as a standard for the temperature calibration of scanning calorimeters have also been measured. The transition temperatures were determined to be (literature values in parentheses): 122.23 K (122.39 K) 138.35 K (138.07 K) and 178.59 K (179.69 K), with an experimental error of ±40 mK.     

Thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on constrained amorphous phase in poly(phenylene sulfide)

We report a thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on the amorphous phase structure of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, crystallized at temperatures just above the glass transition temperature. Thermal properties of Fortron PPS, having viscosity average molecular weights of 30000 to 91000, were characterized using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). We find that while crystallinity varies little with molecular weight, the heat capacity increment at the glass transition decreases as molecular weight decreases. This leads to a smaller liquid-like amorphous phase, and a larger rigid amorphous fraction, in the lower molecular weight PPS. For all molecular weights, constrained fraction decreases as the scan rate decreases.This research is supported by the U. S. Army Research Office through contract DAAH04-96-1-0009. The authors thank Hoechst Celanese for providing different molecular weight Fortron samples and Dr. George Collins for providing sample information. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Elizabeth Oyebode and Leonardo Grimaldi with sample preparation and MDSC work.     

Online measurement of thermal diffusivity during cure of an epoxy composite

Thermal diffusivity was measured online during cure of an epoxy composite using a method somewhat similar to the Ångström Method. It is shown that a simple experimental setup can be used, thus avoiding expensive instrumentation. The experimental instrumentation is explained in detail. The measurements show an increase of thermal diffusivity during the cure of composite material. Using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), heat capacity was measured online during the cure of an epoxy composite. Combining thermal diffusivity measurements with MDSC measurements, the thermal conductivity was found to change during the cure process, similar to the measurements of heat capacity. These changes are referred to vitrification at the end of the cure process.     

T_g以下温度退火对无规聚苯乙烯性能的影响

用调幅式ＤＳＣ等新技术研究了物理老化对无规聚苯乙烯多种性能的影响．随着老化时间的延长，试样的玻璃化转变温度、热焓松弛、峰温、峰高和热焓提高；老化使材料的初始模量，屈服应力和断裂强度都有不同程度的提高；使样品的溶剂扩散速率降低，但对样品的密度和声传播速度几乎没有影响．以上这些结果可从物理老化引起试样中凝聚缠结增加的观点来进行解释．     

Some elements in specific heat capacity measurement and numerical simulation of temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) with R/C network

One important application of temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) is the measurement of specific heat of materials. In this paper, a thermal resistance/capacitance (R/C) numerical model is used to analyze the effects of experimental parameters and calibration on the measurement of specific heat in TMDSC under isothermal conditions. The actual TMDSC experiments were conducted with sapphire and pure copper samples, respectively. Both simulation and experiments showed that in TMDSC, the measured sample specific heat is a non-linear function of many factors such as sample mass, the heat transfer properties of the TMDSC instrument, temperature modulation period, the heat capacity difference between calibration material and the test material, but modulation amplitude has very little effect on the results. The typical behavior of a heat flux type TMDSC can be described as a low pass filter in terms of specific heat capacity measurement when the instrument heat transfer properties are taken into account. At least for metallic materials, where the temperature gradient inside the sample can normally be ignored, the sample should be chosen in such a way that its total heat capacity (mass times specific heat) is close to that of the calibration material in order to get a more accurate result. Also, a large modulation period is beneficial to improving the test accuracy.     

Some remarks on heat capacity measurements by temperature-modulated calorimetry

In temperature-modulated calorimetry, the condition in sample amount, especially thickness, required for high-accuracy heat capacity measurement should be made clear. We propose the condition of maximum thickness of a sample for measuring heat capacity within an accuracy of 1%. The other important factor for high-accuracy heat capacity measurement is thermal contact conductance between a sample and a sample pan and also that between a pan and a base plate of an apparatus. The conditions in these thermal contact conductances required for high-accuracy heat capacity measurement are discussed. Among them, if only thermal contact conductance between a pan and a base plate is significant, there is an ingenious method to measure heat capacity with high accuracy. Furthermore, if the thermal contact conductance between a pan and a base plate is infinite, we offer a simple method to obtain complex heat capacity.     

Time-domain and frequency-domain differential calorimetry

The heat capacityC _p of a sample can be considered as a frequency dependent quantity; its behaviour can reflect the dynamics of enthalpy fluctuations. In order to take into account the dynamic nature of the measured quantity, calorimetry can mimic experimental methods as those of dielectrometry, performing experiments in time domain or in frequency domain.In this paper, an instrument is presented which is based on a calorimetric method meeting these requirements, and thus allowing to study sample dynamics of very viscous systems as glasses and some supercooled liquids. Moreover, experimental procedures permitting investigation of samples undergoing chemical and/or physical transformations by simultaneous measurements of enthalpy variation, heat capacity and, under certain conditions, thermal conductivity, are discussed.     

Relationship between heat of immersion and surface Gibbs energy of fluorite and cassiterite

Calorimetric measurements were made of the heat of immersion in water of cassiterite that was either untreated or treated with 60% HNO₃. The heats of immersion of cassiterite and fluorite were also calculated theoretically from the surface Gibbs energy components, and compared with the heat of immersion measured for cassiterite and that taken from the literature for fluorite. The results of the measurements and calculation revealed that the heat of immersion depends on the degree of hydration of the surface of cassiterite and fluorite. It was also found that it is possible to predict the heats of immersion in water of cassiterite and fluorite from the Lifshitz-van der Waals and acid-base components of the surface Gibbs energy.     

A double twin isothermal microcalorimeter

The design and properties of a double twin heat conduction microcalorimeter are described. In this instrument two twin microcalorimeters are placed close together, one on top of the other. The size of the instrument is the same as that of a commercial single twin microcalorimeter and each of the twin parts has similar properties as one normal twin microcalorimeter. The cross-talk between the calorimeters can be made low; we measured <0.1% of the signal generated in one calorimeter in the other calorimeter. This figure is, however, dependent on how well the two sides of the instrument are thermally balanced. The paper also contains a general discussion of the use of a reference in reducing the effect of temperature changes in the heat sink.

The advantage with a double calorimeter is that one may easily perform two related calorimetric experiments at the same time and in close proximity to each other, e.g. both sorption isotherms and sorption enthalpies may be measured simultaneously, or the heat production rate of a biological process may be monitored at the same time as the CO₂ production is measured.     

Non isothermal heat capacities and chemical reactions using a modulated DSC

An evaluation of measurements of heat capacities by modulated differential scanning calorimetry, MDSC is presented. Heat capacities were obtained from 130 to 550 K by a non isothermal technique in which a periodic modulation was added to the linear heating rate. Effects of amplitude and period of modulation, sample weight, sample type, pan type, and cell imbalance are described. Results are compared with those obtained using the isothermal technique. Heat capacity could be measured well into the decomposition region and separated from the non reversing signal due to chemical reaction (degradation), thus allowing a precise detection of onsets of the thermal degradation. This additional information will aid in the interpretation of the degradation chemistry, a field vital for the petroleum-industry.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthdayPart of this paper was presented at the 23rd Conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society, Toronto, Canada, September 25–28, 1994.The author (MVN) acknowledges the experimental assistance provided by J. Balogh of Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Linden. Helpful discussions with A. Boller of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Dr. Y. Jin, General Electrical, and Dr. S. Sauerbrunn formerly of TA Instruments are also acknowledged.     

Low-temperature heat capacities and standard molar enthalpy of formation of aspirin

Molar heat capacities (C _p,m) of aspirin were precisely measured with a small sample precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 383 K. No phase transition was observed in this temperature region. The polynomial function of C _p,m vs. T was established in the light of the low-temperature heat capacity measurements and least square fitting method. The corresponding function is as follows: for 78 K≤T≤383 K, C _p,m/J mol^-1 K^-1=19.086X ⁴+15.951X ³-5.2548X ²+90.192X+176.65, [X=(T-230.50/152.5)]. The thermodynamic functions on the base of the reference temperature of 298.15 K, {ΔH _T -ΔH _298.15} and {S _T-S _298.15}, were derived. Combustion energy of aspirin (Δ_c U _m) was determined by static bomb combustion calorimeter. Enthalpy of combustion (Δ_c H ^o _m) and enthalpy of formation (Δ_f H ^o _m) were derived through Δ_c U _m as - (3945.26±2.63) kJ mol^-1 and - (736.41±1.30) kJ mol^-1, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.