Highly sensitive pseudo-differential ac-nanocalorimeter for the study of the glass transition

Journal Article · Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935491· OSTI ID:22482620

Laarraj, Mohcine ^[1]; Adhiri, Rahma; Moussetad, Mohamed ^[2]; Ouaskit, Said ^[3]; Guttin, Christophe; Richard, Jacques; Garden, Jean-Luc ^[1]

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1. Institut NÉEL, CNRS, 25 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38042 Grenoble (France)
2. Laboratoire d’Ingénierie et des Matériaux (LIMAT), Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Faculté des Sciences Ben M’Sik, Casablanca Maroc (Morocco)
3. Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée (LPMC), Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Faculté des Sciences Ben M’Sik, Casablanca Maroc (Morocco)

We present a nanocalorimeter designed for the measurement of the dynamic heat capacity of thin films. The microfabricated sensor, the thermal conditioning of the sensor, as well as the highly stable and low noise electronic chain allow measurements of the real and imaginary parts of the complex specific heat with a resolution Δ C/C of about 10{sup −5}. The performances of this quasi-differential nanocalorimeter were tested on a model of polymeric glass-former, the polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). The high stability and low noise of the device are essential for accurate studies on non-equilibrium slow relaxing systems such as glasses.

• OSTI ID: 22482620
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 86, Issue 11; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CALORIMETERS
DESIGN
EQUILIBRIUM
EQUIPMENT
GLASS
NOISE
POLYVINYL ACETATE
RESOLUTION
SENSORS
SPECIFIC HEAT
THIN FILMS