Miniaturized ceramic differential scanning calorimeter with integrated oven and crucible in LTCC technology

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2011-12, Vol.172 (1), p.21-26
• Main Authors: Missal, Wjatscheslaw, Kita, Jaroslaw, Wappler, Eberhard, Gora, Frieder, Kipka, Annette, Bartnitzek, Thomas, Bechtold, Franz, Schabbel, Dirk, Pawlowski, Beate, Moos, Ralf
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Crucibles; Devices; DSC; Enthalpy; Enthalpy of fusion; Indium; LTCC; Mathematical models; Melting; Melting point; Ovens; Scanning
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2011.01.025

A miniaturized ceramic differential scanning calorimeter (MC-DSC) with integrated oven and crucible is presented. Despite its small size of only 11mm×39mm×1.5mm, all functions of a conventional DSC apparatus are integrated in this novel device – including the oven. The MC-DSC is fully manufactured in thick-film and green glass ceramic tape-based low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology. Therefore, production costs are considered to be low. Initial results using indium as a sample material show a good dynamic performance of the MC-DSC. Full width at half maximum of the melting peak is 2.4°C (sample mass approx. 11mg, heating rate approx. 50°C/min). Repeatability of the indium melting point is within ±0.02°C. The melting peak area increases linearly with the sample mass up to at least 26mg. Simulations of a strongly simplified finite element model of the MC-DSC are in a good agreement with measurement results allowing a model-based prediction of its basic characteristics.