Calorimetric sensitivity and thermal resolution of a novel miniaturized ceramic DSC chip in LTCC technology

The calorimetric properties of a novel miniaturized ceramic differential scanning calorimeter device (MC-DSC) with integrated heater and crucible are presented. All features of a conventional DSC apparatus (including oven) are integrated into this DSC device of the size 11 mm × 39 mm × 1.5 mm. The MC-DSC device is suitable for one-way use, since it is fully manufactured in the low-cost planar low temperature co-fired ceramics technology. First characterization of this device is performed using indium, tin and zinc samples. The calorimetric sensitivity at 156.6 °C is 0.24 J/°C s. It depends linearly on temperature in the range of at least 150 °C and 420 °C. The calorimetric sensitivity is constant up to an enthalpy of fusion of at least ΔH = 750 mJ (at 156.6 °C). The thermal analysis of indium in direct contact to the crucible of the chip even reveals a constant calorimetric sensitivity up to an enthalpy of fusion of at least ΔH = 1000 mJ. The repeatability of the peak area is within ±0.3% (11 mg indium, 10 measurements). The thermal resolution determined using 4,4′-azoxyanisole under TAWN test conditions is 0.12 (i.e. 88%). The thermal resolution determined using Dotriacontane is 0.58 (i.e. 42%). Simulations of a strongly simplified finite element model of the MC-DSC device agree well with measurement results allowing a model-based prediction of its basic characteristics.