Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Differential scanning calorimetry

A materials characterization laboratory technique by which the temperature of a sample of the substance in question is raised in increments while a reference is heated in the same rate. The amount of heat that is required to heat the sample and the reference to each temperature is recorded and can be plotted. From these plots, melting points, phase change temperatures, chemical reaction temperatures, and glass transition temperature of polymers can be determined.