Applications of Differential Scanning Calorimetry

The output signal from a DSC, the heat flow rate as a function of temperature, and any derived quantity, such as the heat of transformation or reaction or any change of the heat capacity of the sample, may be used to solve many different problems. The work required to evaluate the measured curve may differ greatly from one case to another. This will become clear from the following text. Sometimes the required information can be obtained from only a qualitative evaluation of the DSC curve. But most of the examples described in this section demand precise measurements and critical, very often special, evaluation procedures of the measured curve. In every case the basis of reliable results is a careful calibration of the DSC (see Chapter 4). As a rule the separately measured zeroline (see Sect. 5.1) has to be subtracted from the measured curve before evaluation. In every case, the relationship between uncertainties in the measurements and the quantities to be determined must always be borne in mind.