A device for unsealing a sample pan for a thermal analysis instrument includes a sample pan holder, an actuator element and a punch element. The sample pan holder is configured to secure the sample pan in a fixed position with respect to the sample pan holder. The actuator element is secured to the sample pan holder and is formed of a thermally sensitive material that changes the shape of the actuator element in response to a change in an external temperature to a transition temperature. The punch element is attached to the actuator element and is positioned with respect to the sample pan such that the change in the shape of the actuator element in response to the change in the external temperature moves the punch element to puncture the sealing element to thereby expose the internal volume of the sample pan to an external environment.

A thermoanalytical sensor has a substrate, a measurement position, a temperature sensor unit, and an electrical contact pad. The temperature sensor unit senses the temperature at the measurement position. It is connected via the electrical contact pad to a metallic wire and thereby tied into an electronic circuit. The substrate is prepared with at least one measurement position, at least one temperature sensor unit and at least one electrical contact pad on a top side of the substrate. A passage in the substrate allows connection to the electrical contact pad. A metallic wire is inserted into the passage from the bottom side of the substrate and melted into a small ball on the upper end of the wire. A materially integral connection as a bonded joint between the upper end of the metallic wire and the electrical contact pad is made by applying pressure and heat to the metal ball.

A method of operating a differential scanning calorimeter wherein errors in the heat flow rate measurement are reduced by operating the calorimeter in a quasiadiabatic mode and by employing a heat flow rate measurement algorithm that includes the leakage heat flow rate. The temperature of the DSC enclosure is controlled independently of the temperature of the measuring system, which allows the temperature difference between the sample and reference containers and the enclosure to be minimized, thus minimizing leakage heat flow.

A microelectromechanical gas sensor including a fixed part, at least one suspended part in relation to fixed part, at least one sensitive zone carried on the suspended part, the sensitive zone being able to adsorb/absorb and desorb gaseous species or families of gaseous species, a heater for heating at least the sensitive zone, a detector for detecting the adsorption/absorption and desorption of gaseous species or families of gaseous species on the sensitive zone, a controller of controlling the heater so that the heating is applied to at least the sensitive zone with one or more temperature profiles ensuring the adsorption/absorption and desorption of the gaseous species in a controlled manner so as to obtain an individual desorption of each species or families of gaseous species.

A MEMS cassette for insertion into a DSC calorimeter and a DSC calorimeter using MEMS cassettes to conduct DSC experiments. The MEMS cassette includes a chip configured to conduct DSC reactions of a sample and reference to derive information regarding the sample.

A reactor and method commonly applicable for high-pressure in-situ DSC and neutron tests of a gas hydrate relates to the field of characterization of physical and chemical properties of the gas hydrate. The reactor can not only carry out a high-pressure and low-temperature in-situ DSC test of the hydrate but also be suitable for a neutron diffraction test of the hydrate. The reactor can be adapted to an existing high-pressure and low-temperature in-situ DSC device without the need to re-develop a whole set of system, thus greatly reducing the replacement cost of the device. Owing to the sectional design, the flexibility and the applicability of the reactor can be ensured. Researchers can conveniently transport the hydrate in a pressure-maintaining manner. Even at a long distance, with the assistance of a liquid nitrogen tank or a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, it can be ensured that the hydrate may not be decomposed during transportation.

Described is a zone box for a differential scanning calorimeter. The zone box includes sheets of thermocouple alloy disposed between thermally conductive electrical insulator layers. A thermocouple alloy wire is electrically coupled to each one of the thermocouple alloy sheets. In addition, a pure metal wire is electrically coupled to each one of the thermocouple alloy sheets to enable remote measurement of voltage differences between the different thermocouple alloy sheets. The high thermal conductivity of the electrical insulator layers substantially reduces any thermal gradients across the sheets and maintains the connections of the thermocouple alloy wires and pure metal wires to the sheets to be at substantially the same temperature. The zone box reduces temperature difference measurement errors that result from inhomogeneity in the thermocouple alloy wires and variable temperature distributions along the length of the wires.

A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) includes a chamber containing a platform having at least a first reference material mount and a first sample material mount. A first calorimetric probe is configured to determine at least one thermochemical reaction of a first material in the first reference mount, and a second calorimetric probe is configured to determine at least one thermochemical reaction of a second material in the second reference mount. A rapid cooling system is at least partially disposed in the chamber. A controller is controllably coupled to at least the rapid heating system and the rapid cooling system. The controller is configured to rapidly heat the chamber and record the at least one thermochemical reaction of the second material as the second material temperature falls.

A system for the simultaneous thermal analysis of a plurality of single samples of, in particular biological, material by means of differential scanning calorimetry, with at least one sample carrier having several sample vessels, wherein a single sensor for measuring an amount of heat emitted or absorbed by the single sample during the thermal analysis is assigned to each sample vessel; a heating and/or cooling unit for the simultaneous temperature application of the single samples included in the sample vessels, with a receptacle for the at least one sample carrier; a measuring instrument, which is connected to the single sensors and which is formed to simultaneously capture a measuring value for the emitted or absorbed amount of heat of the single samples during the thermal analysis, a sample carrier, in particular for use in this system as well as a method for the simultaneous analysis of a plurality of single samples or groups of single samples by means of differential scanning calorimetry.