Applications of a simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry–thermomicroscopy system

A simultaneous DSC–thermomicroscopy system (DSC450 Linkam Scientific) was applied to the study of phase transitions in rubidium nitrate and silver iodide, the oxidation of polyethylene, the thermal degradation of polylactic acid and magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, and the reversible transitions in thermochromic inks. The results demonstrated the benefits of obtaining simultaneous optical data, both images and light intensity measurements, with DSC, particularly in the interpretation of complex processes and the detection of events with small changes in enthalpy.