Tzero Pan Selection: Improving DSC Data

Summary

This tech tip video from TA Instruments guides viewers on selecting the right pans and lids for improved TSE data collection in DSC experiments. It highlights the importance of using pans with a flat bottom for optimal contact and minimal resistance. Aluminum pans are recommended due to their high thermal conductivity and cost-effectiveness. The video also discusses the use of standard lids, hermetic lids for volatile samples, and laser-drilled pans for evaporation and vapor pressure studies. It concludes with the suggestion to use an empty reference pan identical to the sample pan and emphasizes the value of a preliminary TJ experiment.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Selecting the right pan and lid is crucial for improving TSE data collection in DSC experiments.
• 🔧 The Teflon-coated pans are designed with a nearly perfect flat bottom to ensure optimal contact with the sensor and minimize contact resistance.
• ♨️ Aluminum pans are commonly used due to their high thermal conductivity, relative inertness, and cost-effectiveness.
• 🔥 Proper heat transfer between the sample and the DAC sensor is essential, and the lightest and flattest available pans are preferred.
• 🧪 The choice of pan and lid depends on the sample form, stability, solvent content, and temperature range.
• 🚫 Standard Teflon-coated lids do not create a hermetic seal, which may result in volatiles being lost and an endothermic peak in the DSC thermogram.
• 🔬 Perform a TJ (Temperature Jump) experiment before using BSC to assess sample loss and determine the need for a hermetic lid.
• 📏 For hermetic sealing with Teflon-coated medical lids, place the convex side facing down to ensure proper centering and sealing.
• 💧 Laser-drilled pinhole pans allow for continuous evaporation and are used for boiling point determination and vapor pressure experiments.
• 📦 Use an empty reference pan of the same type as the sample pan to maintain accurate measurements in DSC experiments.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the teaser Upen in TSE data collection?

The teaser Upen is engineered to have a nearly perfect flat bottom which does not deform during the sealing process, ensuring optimal contact between the pan and the sensor, minimizing contact resistance, and improving resolution.

Why are aluminum pans typically used in TSE data collection?

Aluminum pans are typically used due to their high thermal conductivity properties, relative inertness, and cost-effectiveness, which are crucial for efficient heat transfer to and from the sample to the DAC sensor.

What factors should be considered when selecting the correct pan and lid for TSE data collection?

Factors to consider include the sample form and stability, solvent content, and temperature range. The selection should ensure proper heat transfer and maintain sample contact with the pan bottom.

What is the role of the standard teaser lid in TSE data collection?

The standard teaser lid is pushed into the pan to help maintain the sample contact with the bottom of the pan. However, it does not create a hermetic seal, which may result in the loss of volatiles.

Why is it recommended to perform a TJ experiment before using BSC?

A TJ experiment is recommended prior to using BSC to determine if sample loss is approximately 0.5% weight or more, which is a key factor in deciding whether to use a hermetic lid to prevent sample loss.

How should the convex side of the hermetic lid be positioned for sealing?

The convex side of the hermetic lid should be placed facing down to ensure that the lid will center and rest in place for proper sealing.

What is the purpose of the laser-drilled pinhole in the pinhole pan?

The laser-drilled pinhole, which is 75 microns in diameter, permits a continuous evaporation process and is used for boiling point determination and vapor pressure experiments.

Why is it important to use an empty reference pan of the same type as the sample pan?

Using an empty reference pan of the same type as the sample pan helps to account for any background effects or baseline shifts that may occur during the DSC experiment, ensuring accurate data collection.

What can result from using standard teaser lids that do not create a hermetic seal?

Using standard teaser lids that do not create a hermetic seal can result in the loss of volatiles, which may appear as an endothermic peak in the DSC thermogram.

How can following the steps outlined in the script help with DSC experiments?

Following the steps outlined in the script ensures that the appropriate pan selections are made for DSC experiments, leading to improved data collection and more accurate results.