title: RheoDSC: a hyphenated technique for the simultaneous measurement of calorimetric and rheological evolutions.
abstract: A newly developed hyphenated technique is presented combining an existing rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter into a single experimental setup. Through the development of a fixation accessory for differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) crucibles and a novel rotor, the simultaneous measurement is performed inside the well-controlled thermal environment of a Tzero DSC cell. Hence, the evolution of thermal and flow properties of a material can be simultaneously measured using steady or oscillatory shear measurements and regular or modulated temperature DSC measurements. Along with the construction of a prototype, a validation of the design was performed. The technique offers interesting opportunities for the investigation of flow-induced transitions, for instance, crystallization or phase separation, and provides an asset for high-throughput screening of materials. The potential of the novel technique is demonstrated by two case studies: the chemorheology during the cure of a thermosetting epoxy-amine system and the flow-induced crystallization of syndiotactic polypropylene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Chemistry-Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiewiet
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Miltner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Assche
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Puyvelde
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Mele