What Is High Pressure Calorimetry?
Calorimetry is a family of techniques used to measure heat flow either at a constant temperature (so called isothermal calorimetry), as a temperature scanning rate is applied (scanning calorimetry), or under self-heating conditions. High pressure calorimetry is the types of calorimetry that study thermal behavior as a function of pressure, either under controlled high pressure or controlled volume conditions.
Why Would You Need High Pressure Calorimetry?
Measuring a material’s property at specific conditions which it may be used at will shed insight into how it will behave and perform. Within the realm of calorimetry, phase transitions, crystallization points, and other physical phenomena can shift and behave differently as compared to the ambient pressure testing. Additionally, reactions between component mixtures can occur and be monitored at elevated pressures and temperatures. TAL possesses methodologies to measure phase transitions and other thermodynamic phenomena at elevated pressures and temperatures, including high-pressure crucibles (up to 500 bar) and temperatures up to 500 °C.
For what Applications would High Pressure Thermal Conductivity Measurements be Beneficial?
Applications for high pressure conductivity range from petrochemical to polymer samples. For the high pressure DSC cells, we offer differential scanning calorimetry measurements from ambient to 500 °C with pressures as high as 500 bar. This pressure is dictated by the vapor pressure of any liquids within the cell, and is not controlled. This may be used to study how coolant liquids perform under pressure, how crude oil behaves under pressure, or for measuring flammable liquids at high temperature and pressure. For specified pressures, we offer cells which can be pressurized using air, argon or nitrogen up to 400 bar. With these specialized cells, we offer DSC testing from -15 – 120 °C using a Calvet sensor.
Application Space
There is a wide range of applications which high pressure DSC measurements may be applicable for, including:
High Pressure Liquids Cell
- Petrochemical liquids
- Additive manufacturing powders
- Liquid Polymers and pre-polymers
- Chemical reactions
- Flammable liquids
Recommended Methods
We offer a wide range of methodologies for high pressure thermal DSC measurements and below is a selection of the measurement requirements for high pressure DSC testing services.
Specified Pressurizable Cells for DSC Testing
| Temperature range | -15 – 120 °C |
| Ramping rate | 0.001 – 2 °C/min |
| Sensor type | 3D Calvet |
| Sample size | 1 – 2 cc |
| Sample materials | Liquids, powders, solids and fabrics |
| Gases | Argon, nitrogen, air |
| Pressure ranges | Ambient – 400 bar |
Vapour Pressure DSC Cells
| Temperature range | Ambient – 500 °C |
| Ramping rate | 0.001 – 25 °C/min |
| Sensor type | Heat flux |
| Sample size | 30 µL |
| Sample materials | Liquids, powders and solids |
| Gases | Argon, nitrogen, air |
| Pressure ranges | Vapour pressure up to 500 bar |
Other methods may be available. Contact us at info@thermalanalysislabs.com or call (506) 457-0498 to discuss.