Question

Material Science:

If you were to be given a DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) trace of a polymer, how would you identify changes and characteristics of the polymer? I understand this is a vague question, but please try your best, I'm lost!

Answer 1

Differential scanning calorimetry is a technique we use to study what happens to polymers when they're heated.Thermal transition is the changes that takes place in the polymer when they heated.

DSC is used widely for examining polymeric materials to determine their thermal transitions. The observed thermal transitions can be utilized to compare materials, although the transitions do not uniquely identify composition. The composition of unknown materials may be completed using complementary techniques.Using differential scanning calorimetry to study the stability to oxidation of samples generally requires an airtight sample chamber. Usually, such tests are done isothermally.DSC makes a reasonable initial safety screening tool. In this mode the sample will be housed in a non-reactive crucible.For the polymer chemist, DSC is a handy tool for studying curing processes, which allows the fine tuning of polymer properties

When start heating our two pans, the computer will plot the difference in heat output of the two heaters against temperature. That is to say, we're plotting the heat absorbed by the polymer against temperature.Many modern DSC instruments have the ability to measure the absolute heat flow. This is done by dividing the signal by the measured heating rate, which converts it into a heat capacity signal.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.