A differential scanning calorimeter measures how samples respond to temperature changes. It compares the response of a known sample to an unknown one, measuring stability and energy associated with molecular development. It is used to characterize polymers and protein stability, and study molecular interactions and structural alterations.
A differential scanning calorimeter is an instrument that measures how samples respond to changes in temperature. A sample is used because the changes it undergoes when the temperature rises or falls are already known. It is used as a comparison with another sample, for which the response to temperature changes is tested. Each sample is stored in a container called a crucible, and the materials the device is designed to test are usually biological molecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins.
Tests performed using the differential scanning calorimeter are based on the field of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which involves analyzing the stability of biological molecules and systems. The energy associated with the development of the molecules and their balance between being folded or unfolded is measured. As molecules change states or the sample melts or solidifies, changes in their heat capacity allow researchers to classify them. Molecules are considered more stable when temperatures are higher and the material is in a state where at least half of the molecules are in transition.
To measure any new sample, it must be compared to the rate of change for another type of material. Temperature differences are also measured when the containers are empty and are used as a reference to calculate a specific heat capacity. The rate at which the temperature changes is the same for both containers and occurs over the same temperature range. Heat capacities are measured from 212°F to 2.192°F (100°C to 1.200°C). A differential scanning calorimeter can also measure phase changes that occur over a temperature range of 68°F to 2.732°F (20°C to 1,500°C).
Heating rates are usually constant, but small changes in rate, or oscillations, can be made with a modulated differential scanning calorimeter. In one scan, this feature allows researchers to have a clearer understanding of a substance’s heat capacity and also to measure the reversible and non-reversible effects of heat on a sample during the time the rocking occurs. The instrument provides a more sensitive method for characterizing molecules.
Differential scanning calorimeter systems are generally used to characterize polymers and protein stability. They are used in specialized fields, such as protein engineering, studying antibodies, and understanding the nature of nucleic acids, lipids, and membranes. Molecular interactions can be measured on a very small scale, and scientists can also study how structural alterations in molecules affect certain temperature ranges and rates of change.
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