Fast Scanning Calorimetry in Polymeric Materials
Summary
Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) is a thermal analysis technique tailored to polymeric materials that achieves heating and cooling rates orders of magnitude higher than conventional differential scanning calorimetry. By employing microfabricated sensors and minimal sample masses, FSC enables precise measurement of glass transition phenomena, crystallisation kinetics, melting behaviour and enthalpy relaxation under conditions closely resembling industrial processing or rapid quenching. Its millisecond response time captures transient events such as nucleation onset, crystal growth under non‐isothermal conditions and low‐temperature segmental mobility, which are obscured at slower rates. The method has transformed understanding of how molecular architecture, cross‐link density and additive presence influence the thermal stability and morphology of polymers. These insights underpin optimisation of additive manufacturing, thin‐film processing and shape‐memory applications, while reducing material consumption. By bridging fundamental kinetics and practical cooling or heating scenarios, FSC offers a versatile platform for linking microscopic phase behaviour with macroscopic performance in polymers ranging from aliphatic polyesters to high‐performance engineering resins.
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Fast Scanning Calorimetry in Polymeric Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fast scanning calorimetry in polymeric materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC): A chip-based calorimetric method achieving heating and cooling rates up to 10^6 K s⁻¹ for rapid thermal analysis.
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): The temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions between glassy and rubbery states, marked by a step change in heat capacity.
Crystallisation Kinetics: The rate processes governing nucleation and growth of crystalline domains during cooling or isothermal holds.
Critical Cooling Rate: The minimum cooling speed required to bypass crystallisation and produce an amorphous solid.
Enthalpy Relaxation: The time-dependent approach of a glassy polymer toward equilibrium enthalpy upon annealing below Tg.
References
- Critical Cooling Rate of Fast-Crystallizing Polyesters: The Example of Poly(alkylene trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate). Polymers (2024).
- Influence of the Cross-Link Density on the Rate of Crystallization of Poly(ε-Caprolactone). Polymers (2018).
- Nucleation and crystallization kinetics of polyamide 12 investigated by fast scanning calorimetry. Journal of Polymer Science (2021).
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