Investigations of the Sub-Ambient Transitions in Frozen Sucrose by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC®)

40% w/w sucrose/water solutions were analyzed by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry 1] in the sub-ambient temperature region. At these temperatures, the solutions exhibit a complex, two-step thermal event. The lower-temperature event is believed to be the glass transition of the amorphous sucrose phase. The nature of the higher-temperature event is the subject of controversy. This event has been shown to have distinct second-order characteristics, and as such is believed to be a second T_g. Others feel that this event is the onset of melting. The temperature region between these events contains a devitrification exotherm. Through the use of MDSC, both in scanning and stepwise quasi-isothermal modes, improved sensitivity and resolution of MDSC provides new insight into the nature of these transitions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.