Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

A thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. Useful in characterizing drug compounds in order to define processing parameters (i.e., avoiding crystallization or other phase changes that could affect the final product).

Generally, the temperature program for a DSC analysis is designed such that the sample holder temperature increases linearly as a function of time. The reference sample should have a well-defined heat capacity over the range of temperatures to be scanned.

There are two main types of DSC: Heat-flux 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.

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