Study of polymer glasses by modulated differential scanning calorimetry in the undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory

摘要

Thermodynamics and calorimetry have long been an important part of the undergraduate physical chemistry curriculum. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a workhorse technique in research as well as in industry, particularly in the polymer field (1). Its educational value has also long been recognized (2-7). The advent of the modulated form of the technique, MDSC (8,9), further strengthens the position of thermal analysis. It also presents educational opportunities and challenges. For example, a major advantage of the technique is that it can determine which part of the heat flow responds to the imposed modulation reversibly and which part does not. This division strongly benefits the study of polymers because it helps to unravel the often complicated phase transitions in these materials.