Other examples of uses of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC):
Glass Transitions: A reversible change of the amorphous region of a polymer from, or to, a viscous or rubbery condition to, or from, a hard and relatively brittle one. The glass transition temperature is a temperature taken to represent the temperature range over which the glass transition takes place. Glass transition temperature is highly relevant for amorphous material as it is a valuable indicator of stability. Thus, DSC can be used in determination of crystallinity of a sample.
Melting and Boiling Points: The endothermic transition upon heating from a crystalline solid to the liquid state. This process is also called fusion. The enthalpy of melting is the heat energy required for melting, i.e. for breaking down the crystalline lattice. This is calculated by integrating the area of the DSC peak on a time basis. A sharp well defined melting peak corresponds to at well defined crystal structure. Changes in melting temperature and energy gives information about, for instance, content of amorphous material. Thus, the melting endotherm can be used for determination of purity of the sample.
Crystallization time and temperature: Melting is a one-step process while crystallization involves nucleation and crystal growth. Nucleation will be dependent on cooling rate, whereas the melting point is unaffected. Cooling at different rates might lead to discovery of new polymorphic forms.
Percent crystallinity/purity: Only crystalline material has a melting endotherm, i.e. a temperature where the lattice breaks down. If a material contains amorphous material – or other impurities, it will lead to a lowering of the melting point + a reduction in the melting enthalpy. Further, content of amophous material will give rise to a glass transition.
Relative stability of different crystalline forms: Endothermic or exothermic transitions between different crystalline forms (polymorphs) of the same material provide information about their relative stability: From the DSC curve it is possible to reveal whether you have monotropy (one stable form at all temperatures) or anisotropy (a change in relative stability at a given temperature below the melting temperature)