Differential Scanning Caloimetry (DSC) - FAQ

This booklet provides an introduction to the concepts of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). It is written for the materials scientist unfamiliar with DSC. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is a fundamental tool in thermal analysis. It can be used in many industries – from pharmaceuticals and polymers, to nanomaterials and food products. The information these instruments generate is used to understand amorphous and crystalline behavior, polymorph and eutectic transitions, curing and degree of cure, and many other material properties used to design, manufacture, and test products. While DSCs are manufactured in several variations, PerkinElmer is the only company to make both single-and double-furnace styles. We have manufactured thermal analysis instrumentation since 1960, and understand applications better than anyone in the industry. In the following pages, we answer common questions about how a DSC works, and what it tells you about the thermal properties of materials you work with in your laboratory.