Client Operated Instrument

The TA Discovery 250 differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) determines the temperature and heat flow associated with solid or liquid materials as a function of time and temperature. The DSC provides quantitative and qualitative data on endothermic and exothermic processes of materials during physical transitions that are due to phase changes, melting, oxidation, crystallization, and other kinetic and thermodynamic processes. The DSC also has a photocalorimeter accessory (PCA) which allows users to photocure materials. Users who wish to be trained should contact the lab to schedule training. Instrument time is reserved through ChemFOM. 

Key Features and Specifications:

• An operating temperature range from -90 to 550°C 
• A large autosampler which allows for the analysis of of up to 54 samples sequentially
• Photocalorimeter accessory (PCA) which allows for photocuring of materials between -50 and 250°C with a a wavelength range of 320-500 nm.
• Baseline flatness of ≤10 µW
• Baseline repeatability ≤20 µW
• Temperature accuracy ±0.05 °C
• Temperature precision ±0.008 °C
• Enthalpy precision ±0.008%

Theory of Operation

There are two main types of DSC, heat-flux DSC (multi-cell DSC) which measures the difference in heat flux between the sample and a reference and power differential DSC which measures the difference in power supplied to the sample and a reference. The Discovery 250 DSC uses a heat-flux design. In a heat-flux design, the specimen/sample and reference materials are heated or cooled together under a controlled temperature program in a single furnace. The sample is encapsulated in a pan, usually aluminum, and along with an empty reference pan, sits on a thermoelectric disk surrounded by the furnace.As the temperature of the furnace is changed, usually at a constant rate, heat is transferred to and from the sample and reference through the thermoelectric sensor.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.

Link to manufacturer's brochure: https://www.tainstruments.com/pdf/brochure/Discovery-DSC-Brochure.pdf