Deformation of sample pans used in differential scanning calorimeters

The authors have previously reported on an optical technique to enable the simultaneous and non-contact acquisition of spectral, thermal and physical information of a sample in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). This was achieved using a simple bifurcated fibre optic probe to link the DSC to a conventional Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and an optical spectrum analyser. The fibre optic probe was located over the sample and reference compartments of the DSC. In the current study, a series of experiments were designed to investigate the stability of DSC pans during heating from ambient to 230 °C. During the first heating cycle, the base of the aluminium pans used in these experiments was found to deform in a non-linear manner. The deformation characteristics of pans manufactured from copper and steel were also investigated. Annealing the aluminium pans was found to improve significantly the deformation or expansion characteristics.