DSC Technology: An Enhanced Tool for Coatings Analysis
TA Instruments has introduced the Q Series(tm) line of DSCs incorporating Tzero(tm) technology. This development involves more than just an improved DSC cell with better baseline stability. It uses a new measurement principle and an additional element on the DSC sensor that together provide compensation for known intrinsic instrument distortion of the DSC signal.1 With the virtual elimination of the latter, it is now possible to measure specific heat capacity directly in a single scan, and to achieve greater sensitivity and accuracy than ever before. Tzero technology also reduces analysis time, especially for Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry(r) (MDSC) measurements.
In designing a coating product, the choice of Tg range comes down to the choice of polymer system, pigments, the solvent system (e.g., solvent- or waterborne) and an additive package. including fillers, plasticizers, curing agents and biocides. DSC is used to assess the Tg of both the formulation components and the final, applied product.