The Flash DSC 1, a power compensation twin-type, chip-based fast scanning calorimeter (FSC): First findings on polymers

The performance of the Flash DSC 1, a recently introduced, commercial available chip fast scanning calorimeter (FSC) based on MEMS sensor technology, was studied. Topics included calibration; symmetry; repeatability; scan rate control windows of operation. Scan rates up to 20 000 °C/s for empty cell measurements in cooling and heating have been achieved. By combinations of scan rates up to 1000 °C/s various topics in between −95 to 450 °C were studied on polymers including self nucleation; annealing and thermal fractionation; ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ crystallization; amorphization; and cross-over of crystallization behavior with scan rate variation for two polymers. Sample masses around 1 μg and less gave good results with excellent repeatability and acceptable thermal lags. The Flash DSC 1 enables to mimic realistic conditions of practice and to measure (meta)stability and reorganization phenomena of substances and materials, including polymers, metals, pharmaceuticals etc.

► The low scan rates of the chip-based Flash DSC 1 overlap with those of Standard DSC. ► With empty cells cooling & heating rates as high as 20 000 °C/s are reported. ► Various polymers have been studied at rates up to 1000°C/s between −95 to 450°C. ► Topics are nucleation, thermal fractionation, hot/cold/recrystalization, melting. ► The Flash DSC 1 enables mimicking of process conditions and study of metastability.