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中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。真实的工业过程中的材料，如注塑成型、纤维纺丝、热喷涂和发泡，会经历104至106 K/min的快速加热和冷却，远远超出传统DSC的测试范围。** 由于这种限制，在这些过程中，关于材料的结构发展存在重大的知识差距。材料结构和分子组织的演变非常依赖于冷却速率;这种结构发展反过来又显著影响材料的性质和性能。为了弥补PI和co-PI研究过程中的知识差距，我们正在申请一种Flash DSC设备，用于工程材料的超快速扫描量热法。Flash DSC是由Mettler Toledo提供的先进DSC技术，其允许从6到2，400，000 K/min的超快速扫描，并且温度范围从-95到1，000 °C。目前，加拿大没有这种设备。*申请人及其HQP将在以下研究项目中使用要求的热分析设备：（1）纳米层聚合物薄膜，（2）聚合物发泡，（3）原位纳米原纤化聚合物复合材料，以及（4）热喷涂涂层。这些研究项目代表了具有快速加热和冷却速率的先进制造工艺，这些工艺在传统DSC中无法复制。收购这台Flash DSC设备将有助于进行高影响力的研究，帮助了解和优化这些工业流程。这项研究将对加拿大先进制造业的发展具有非常重要的价值，并为加拿大增加其在该领域的全球影响力和专业知识提供了一条途径。**

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. **