The Application of Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry for the Characterisation of Curing Systems

Abstract

1 Introduction Modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC, also called temperature modulated DSC or TMDSC) is an extension of conventional DSC in which a modulated temperature input signal is used. This modern technique has proven to be very beneficial for the thermal charac-terisation of many materials, especially polymers [1-5]. The simultaneous measurement of the amplitude (modulus) of the complex heat capacity, the heat flow and the phase angle between heat flow and heating rate (termed heat flow phase) enables a more detailed study of complicated material systems, both in quasi-isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. The extraction of the signals is briefly summarised below. More details on theory and applications are given in dedicated special issues of Thermochimica Acta [6,7] and Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorime-try [8] and in other chapters of this book. In MTDSC, a sample is subjected to a modulated temperature programme that is obtained by superimposing a sine wave on the conventional isothermal or linearly changing temperature: T = T 0 + β 60 t + A T sin (ωt) (1) where T is the temperature, T 0 is the initial temperature, β is the (linear) heating rate (in K min −1), A T is the temperature modulation amplitude, ω 83 M. Reading and D. J. Hourston (eds.), Theory and Practice of Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry, 83-160.