Differential scanning calorimetry

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Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Acronym Classification Manufacturers DSC Thermal analysis Mettler-Toledo, PerkinElmer, TA Instruments Other Techniques Related Isothermal titration calorimetry Dynamic mechanical analysis Thermomechanical analysis Thermogravimetric analysis Differential thermal analysis Dielectric thermal analysis

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Differential scanning calorimetry or DSC is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference are measured as a function of temperature. Both the sample and reference are maintained at nearly the same temperature throughout the experiment. Generally, the temperature program for a DSC analysis is designed such that the sample holder temperature increases linearly as a function of time. The reference sample should have a well-defined heat capacity over the range of temperatures to be scanned. The main application of DSC is in studying phase transitions, such as melting, glass transitions, or exothermic decompositions. These transitions involve energy changes or heat capacity changes that can be detected by DSC with great sensitivity. The technique was developed by E.S. Watson and M.J. O'Neill in 1960,[1] and introduced commercially at the 1963 Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied

Spectroscopy. The term DSC was coined to describe this instrument which measures energy directly and allows precise measurements of heat capacity.[2]

Contents
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1 Detection of phase transitions 2 DTA 3 DSC curves 4 Applications 5 Examples o 5.1 Liquid crystals o 5.2 Oxidative stability o 5.3 Safety Screening o 5.4 Drug analysis o 5.5 General chemical analysis o 5.6 Food science o 5.7 Polymers o 5.8 Metals 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography

[edit] Detection of phase transitions

The basic principle underlying this technique is that, when the sample undergoes a physical transformation such as phase transitions, more or less heat will need to flow to it than the reference to maintain both at the same temperature. Whether less or more heat must flow to the sample depends on whether the process is exothermic or endothermic. For example, as a solid sample melts to a liquid it will require more heat flowing to the sample to increase its temperature at the same rate as the reference. This is due to the absorption of heat by the sample as it undergoes the endothermic phase transition from solid to liquid. Likewise, as the sample undergoes exothermic processes (such as crystallization) less heat is required to raise the sample temperature. By observing the difference in heat flow between the sample and reference, differential scanning calorimeters are able to measure the amount of heat absorbed or released during such transitions. DSC may also be used to observe more subtle phase changes, such as glass transitions. It is widely used in industrial settings as a quality control instrument due to its applicability in evaluating sample purity and for studying polymer curing.[3][4][5]

[edit] DTA

An alternative technique, which shares much in common with DSC, is differential thermal analysis (DTA). In this technique it is the heat flow to the sample and reference that remains the same rather than the temperature. When the sample and reference are heated identically phase changes and other thermal processes cause a difference in temperature between the sample and reference. Both DSC and DTA provide similar information and modern DTA developed from the Boersma DTA, which first used one furnace with fixed thermocouples. Many modern commercial DTA are called heat flux DSC.

[edit] DSC curves

The result of a DSC experiment is a curve of heat flux versus temperature or versus time. There are two different conventions: exothermic reactions in the sample shown with a positive or negative peak; it depends on the different kind of technology used by the instrumentation to make the experiment. This curve can be used to calculate enthalpies of transitions. This is done by integrating the peak corresponding to a given transition. It can be shown that the enthalpy of transition can be expressed using the following equation:

H = KA
where H is the enthalpy of transition, K is the calorimetric constant, and A is the area under the curve. The calorimetric constant will vary from instrument to instrument, and can be determined by analyzing a well-characterized sample with known enthalpies of transition.[4]

[edit] Applications

A schematic DSC curve demonstrating the appearance of several common features Differential scanning calorimetry can be used to measure a number of characteristic properties of a sample. Using this technique it is possible to observe fusion and crystallization events as well as glass transition temperatures Tg. DSC can also be used to study oxidation, as well as other chemical reactions.[3][4][5][6] Glass transitions may occur as the temperature of an amorphous solid is increased. These transitions appear as a step in the baseline of the recorded DSC signal. This is due to the sample undergoing a change in heat capacity; no formal phase change occurs.[3][5] As the temperature increases, an amorphous solid will become less viscous. At some point the molecules may obtain enough freedom of motion to spontaneously arrange themselves into a crystalline form. This is known as the crystallization temperature (Tc). This transition from amorphous solid to crystalline solid is an exothermic process, and results in a peak in the DSC signal. As the temperature increases the sample eventually reaches its melting temperature (Tm). The melting process results in an endothermic peak in the DSC curve. The ability to determine transition temperatures and enthalpies makes DSC an invaluable tool in producing phase diagrams for various chemical systems.[3]

Top: A schematic DSC curve of amount of energy input (y) required to maintain each temperature (x), scanned across a range of temperatures. Bottom: Normalized curves setting the initial heat capacity as the reference. Buffer-buffer baseline (dashed) and protein-buffer variance (solid).

[edit] Examples
The technique is widely used across a range of applications, both as a routine quality test and as a research tool. The equipment is easy to calibrate, using low melting indium for example, and is a rapid and reliable method of thermal analysis.

[edit] Liquid crystals

DSC is used in the study of liquid crystals. As some forms of matter go from solid to liquid they go through a third state, which displays properties of both phases. This anisotropic liquid is known as a liquid crystalline or mesomorphous state. Using DSC, it is possible to observe the small energy changes that occur as matter transitions from a solid to a liquid crystal and from a liquid crystal to an isotropic liquid.[4]

[edit] Oxidative stability

Using differential scanning calorimetry to study the stability to oxidation of samples generally requires an airtight sample chamber. Usually, such tests are done isothermally (at

constant temperature) by changing the atmosphere of the sample. First, the sample is brought to the desired test temperature under an inert atmosphere, usually nitrogen. Then, oxygen is added to the system. Any oxidation that occurs is observed as a deviation in the baseline. Such analysis can be used to determine the stability and optimum storage conditions for a material or compound.[3]

[edit] Safety Screening

DSC makes a reasonable initial safety screening tool. In this mode the sample will be housed in a non-reactive crucible (often gold, or gold plated steel), and which will be able to withstand pressure (typically up to 100 bar). The presence of an exothermic event can then be used to assess the stability of a substance to heat. However, due to a combination of relatively poor sensitivity, slower than normal scan rates (typically 2-3 /min - due to much heavier crucible) and unknown activation energy, it is necessary to deduct about 75-100 C from the initial start of the observed exotherm to suggest a maximum temperature for the material. A much more accurate data set can be obtained from an adiabatic calorimeter, but such a test may take 23 days from ambient at a rate of a 3 C increment per half hour.

[edit] Drug analysis

DSC is widely used in the pharmaceutical and polymer industries. For the polymer chemist, DSC is a handy tool for studying curing processes, which allows the fine tuning of polymer properties. The cross-linking of polymer molecules that occurs in the curing process is exothermic, resulting in a positive peak in the DSC curve that usually appears soon after the glass transition.[3][4][5] In the pharmaceutical industry it is necessary to have well-characterized drug compounds in order to define processing parameters. For instance, if it is necessary to deliver a drug in the amorphous form, it is desirable to process the drug at temperatures below those at which crystallization can occur.[4]

[edit] General chemical analysis

Freezing-point depression can be used as a purity analysis tool when analysed by Differential scanning calorimetry.[7] This is possible because the temperature range over which a mixture of compounds melts is dependent on their relative amounts. Consequently, less pure compounds will exhibit a broadened melting peak that begins at lower temperature than a pure compound.[4][5]

[edit] Food science

In food science research, DSC is used in conjunction with other thermal analytical techniques to determine water dynamics. Changes in water distribution may be correlated with changes in texture. Similar to material science studies, the effects of curing on confectionery products can also be analyzed.

[edit] Polymers
DSC is used widely for examining polymers to check their composition. Melting points and glass transition temperatures for most polymers are available from standard compilations, and the method can show up possible polymer degradation by the lowering of the expected melting point, Tm, for example. Tm depends on the molecular weight of the polymer, so lower grades will have lower melting points than expected. The percentage crystallinity of a polymer can also be found using DSC. It can be found from the crystallisation peak from the DSC graph since the heat of fusion can be calculated from the area under an absorption peak. Impurities in polymers can be determined by examining thermograms for anomalous peaks, and plasticisers can be detected at their characteristic boiling points.

[edit] Metals
In the last few years this technology has been involved in metallic material study. The characterization of this kind of material with DSC is not easy yet because of the low quantity of literature about it. It is known that it is possible to use DSC to find solidus and liquidus temperature of a metal alloy, but the widest application is, by now, the study of precipitations, Guiner-Preston zones, phase transitions, etc.

[edit] See also

Chemical thermodynamics Calorimetry Endothermic Exothermic Forensic engineering Forensic polymer engineering Glass transition temperature Phase transitions Polymer

[edit] References
1. ^ U.S. Patent 3,263,484 2. ^ Wunderlich, B. (1990). Thermal Analysis. New York: Academic Press. pp. 137 140. 3. ^ a b c d e f Dean, John A. (1995). The Analytical Chemistry Handbook. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc.. pp. 15.115.5. 4. ^ a b c d e f g Pungor, Erno (1995). A Practical Guide to Instrumental Analysis. Florida: Boca Raton. pp. 181191. 5. ^ a b c d e Skoog, Douglas A., F. James Holler and Timothy Nieman (1998). Principles of Instrumental Analysis (5 ed.). New York. pp. 805808.

6. ^ M. J. O'Neill (1964). Anal. Chem. 36: 12381245. doi:10.1021/ac60213a020. 7. ^ "DSC Purity Analysis". http://us.mt.com/mt_ext_files/Editorial/Generic/0/stare_purity_datasheet_0x000249 47000255120005b219_files/51724796.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-05.

Differential thermal analysis

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Differential Thermal Analysis

Acronym Classification DTA Thermal analysis Other Techniques Related Dynamic mechanical analysis Thermomechanical analysis Thermogravimetric analysis Differential thermal analysis Dielectric thermal analysis

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Differential thermal analysis (or DTA) is a thermoanalytic technique, similar to differential scanning calorimetry. In DTA, the material under study and an inert reference are made to undergo identical thermal cycles, while recording any temperature difference between sample and reference.[1] This differential temperature is then plotted against time, or against temperature (DTA curve or thermogram). Changes in the sample, either exothermic or endothermic, can be detected relative to the inert reference. Thus, a DTA curve provides data on the transformations that have occurred, such as glass transitions, crystallization, melting and sublimation. The area under a DTA peak is the enthalpy change and is not affected by the heat capacity of the sample.

Contents
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1 Apparatus 2 Today's Instruments 3 Applications 4 References

[edit] Apparatus
A DTA consists of a sample holder comprising thermocouples, sample containers and a ceramic or metallic block; a furnace; a temperature programmer; and a recording system. The key feature is the existence of two thermocouples connected to a voltmeter. One thermocouple is placed in an inert material such as Al2O3, while the other is placed in a sample of the material under study. As the temperature is increased, there will be a brief deflection of the voltmeter if the sample is undergoing a phase transition. This occurs because the input of heat will raise the temperature of the inert substance, but be incorporated as latent heat in the material changing phase.[2] DTA schema : http://gideonlabs.com/images/tg209.gif Results of coupled DTA and TGA : http://mimp.materials.cmu.edu/hst/Projects/2002/Clay/Introduction_files/image017.jpg

[edit] Today's Instruments

In todays market most manufactures no longer make a true DTA but rather have incorporated this technology into a Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), which provides both mass loss and thermal information. With todays advancements in software, even these instruments are being replaced by true TGA-DSC instruments that can provide the temperature and heat flow of the sample, simultaneously with mass loss.

[edit] Applications
A DTA curve can be used only as a finger print for identification purposes but usually the applications of this method are the determination of phase diagrams, heat change measurements and decomposition in various atmospheres. DTA is widely used in the pharmaceutical[3][4] and food industries.[5][6][7][8] DTA may be used in cement chemistry,[9] mineralogical research[10] and in environmental studies.[11] DTA curves may also be used to date bone remains[12] or to study archaeological materials.
[13][14]

[edit] References
1. ^ Bhadeshia H.K.D.H. Thermal analyses techniques. Differential thermal analysis.
University of Cambridge, Material Science and Metallurgy. www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phasetrans/2002/Thermal1.pdf 2. ^ . http://books.google.de/books?id=1AsFdUxOwu8C&pg=PA170. 3. ^ Ferrer S., Borrs J., Martn Gil J. and Martn Gil F.J. "Thermal studies on sulphonamide derivative complexes. Thermochim. Acta, 1989, 147, 321 330; 1989, 153, 205 220; 1991, 185, 315 333. 4. ^ Martn Gil J., Martnez Villa F., Ramos-Snchez M.C. and Martn-Gil F.J. "Studies on beta lactam antibiotics. differential thermal analysis of cephalosporins". J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 1984, 29, 1351 7. 5. ^ Berger K.G., Akehurst E.E. Some applications of differential thermal analysis to oils and fats. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 1966, 1, 237247. 6. ^ Ramos Snchez M.C., Rey F.J., Rodrguez M.L., Martn Gil F.J. and Martn Gil J. "DTG and DTA studies on typical sugars". Thermochim. Acta, 1988, 134, 55 60. 7. ^ F.J. Rey, M.C. Ramos-Snchez, M.L.Rodrguez, J. Martn-Gil, F.J. Martn-Gil. "DTG and DTA studies on sugar derivatives". Thermochim. Acta, 1988, 134, 67 72. 8. ^ Rodrguez Mndez M.L., Rey F.J., Martn Gil J. and Martn Gil F.J. "DTG and DTA studies on amino acids". Thermochim. Acta, 1988, 134, 73 78. 9. ^ Ramachandran V.S. Applications of differential thermal analysis in cement chemistry. Chap. V, Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York (1969), 92. 10. ^ Smykatz-Kloss W. Application of differential thermal analysis in mineralogy. J. Therm. Anal. Cal., 1982, 23, 15-44. 11. ^ Smykatz-Kloss W., Heil A, Kaeding L. and Roller E. Thermal analysis in environmental studies. In: Thermal analysis in Geosciences. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 1991. 12. ^ Villanueva, PrE, Girela F. y Castellanos M. The application of differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis to dating bone remains. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1976, 21, 13. ^ Misiego-Tejeda J.C., Marcos-Contreras G.J., Sarabia Herrero F.J., Martn Gil J. and Martn Gil F.J. "Un horno domstico de la primera Edad del Hierro de "El Soto de Medinilla" (Valladolid) y su anlisis por ATD". BSAA (University of Valladolid) 1993, LIX, 89 111. 14. ^ Kingery W.D. A note on the differential thermal analysis of archaeological ceramics. Archaeometry, 1974, 16, 109112.

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