Ultra-fast Scanning Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for Advanced Thermal Analysis of Engineered Materials

差示扫描量热法（DSC）是材料科学与工程领域应用最广泛的表征方法之一。虽然它提供了有价值的见解，但传统的DSC设备仅限于1-200 K/min之间的加热/冷却速率。这远远低于材料在制造过程中实际经历的速率。实际工业过程中的材料，如注塑、纤维纺丝、热喷涂、发泡等，都经历了104 ~ 106 K/min的快速加热和冷却，远远超出了常规DSC的测试范围。******由于这一限制，在这些过程中，关于材料结构发展的知识差距很大。材料结构和分子组织的演变极其依赖于冷却速率；这种结构的发展反过来又显著地影响了材料的性质和性能。为了弥补PI和co-PI研究过程的知识差距，我们需要一种用于工程材料超快速扫描量热仪的Flash DSC设备。Flash DSC是由梅特勒-托莱多提供的一种先进的DSC技术，它允许从6到240万K/min的超快速扫描，温度范围从-95到1000°C。目前，加拿大没有这样的设备。******申请者和他们的HQP将在以下研究项目中使用所要求的设备进行热分析：(1)纳米层聚合物薄膜，(2)聚合物发泡，(3)原位纳米纤维化聚合物复合材料，(4)热喷涂涂层。这些研究项目代表了先进的制造工艺，具有快速的加热和冷却速度，这在传统的DSC中是无法复制的。该Flash DSC设备的收购将允许高影响力的研究，这将有助于通知和优化这些工业过程。这项研究将对发展加拿大先进制造业具有重要价值，并为加拿大在这一领域增加全球影响力和专业知识提供途径。**

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is one of the most widely used characterization methods in the materials science and engineering field. While it provides valuable insight, conventional DSC equipment is limited to heating/cooling rates between 1-200 K/min. This is far below the rates actually experienced by materials in a manufacturing process. Materials in real industrial processes such as injection moulding, fibre spinning, thermal spray coating, and foaming experience rapid heating and cooling on the scale of 104 to 106 K/min, far outside the testing range of conventional DSC. ******Due to this limitation, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the structural development in materials during these processes. The evolution of the material structure and molecular organization is extremely dependent on the cooling rate; this structural development in turn significantly influences the properties and performance of the material. In order to bridge this knowledge gap for the processes studied by the PI and co-PIs, we are requesting a Flash DSC device for ultra-fast scanning calorimetry of engineered materials. Flash DSC is an advanced DSC technique provided by Mettler Toledo which allows ultra-fast scanning from 6 to 2,400,000 K/min, and in temperature ranges from -95 to 1,000°C. Currently, no such equipment exists in Canada.******The applicants and their HQP will use the requested equipment for thermal analysis in the following research programs: (1) Nanolayered polymer films, (2) Polymer foaming, (3) In-situ nanofibrillated polymer composites, and (4) Thermal spray coatings. These research programs represent advanced manufacturing processes with rapid heating and cooling rates which cannot be replicated in a conventional DSC. The acquisition of this Flash DSC equipment will allow high-impact research that will help inform and optimize these industrial processes. This research will be highly valuable in growing Canada's advanced manufacturing sector, and provide an avenue for Canada to increase its global impact and expertise in this field. **