Absolute Basics of DSC
- Duration: 3.50 hours for on-demand
- Experience level: Beginners
- Delivery methods: Face-to-face | Offsite training & consultancy | On-Demand | Online | Onsite training & consultancy | Tailored training |
- Type of course: Universal
- Applicable to manufacturer(s):
- CPD Approved: Not yet approved
- Scheduled course price: £210.00 + TAX per delegate
- Course discounts: RSC CAMS HEaTED Cambridge Network TSN members receive a discount on this course
Your beginner’s guide to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Learn the fundamentals of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), with this beginner‑friendly 1-day classroom-based course for professionals and students. This introductory, analytical chemistry course will cover the what, how, why, where and when of DSC and will take you through the basics, from learning about the types of DSC techniques available to understanding the analytical data DSC provides, the concept being to obtain information on thermal changes by heating/cooling a sample.
Whether you’re stepping into the world of DSC for the first time, or looking to refresh your technical expertise, this essential training course gives you the knowledge to understand and use DSC as an analytical tool for thermal analysis. This course breaks down DSC instrumentation and techniques into easy-to-understand concepts, helping you to build skills that you can use in the lab.
Why should I join?
On completion, you will be able to understand what defines DSC, its typical applications and uses in industries such as polymer characterisation and food materials testing, as well as the sample preparation for DSC and the fundamental concepts and theory behind the technique.
This DSC training course gives you:
- A solid understanding of DSC and its use in thermal analysis
- Clear explanations of DSC and the data it provides
- Insights into different DSC techniques including dynamic DSC and high-speed DSC
- Understanding a thermal analysis curve and what analytical information can be gained
- Familiarity with DSC terminology such as heat capacity, amorphous materials and DSC sample pan types
- Applications and case studies, exploring hyperDSC, polymer characterisation by DSC, advantages and disadvantages of different DSC types
- A great summary of DSC aided with an acronym glossary
This is your opportunity to understand DSC and, how it can be used in everyday analytical labs.
Combine other days or modules.
What would I learn?
A beginner‑friendly introductory course focusing on the what, how, why, where and when of DSC, including:
- What DSC is
- What defines DSC and the thermodynamic information it provides
- What types of DSC there are available in analytical chemistry
- What the output is from DSC and what qualitative and quantitative data it can provide
- How DSC works
- The core principles behind DSC
- How DSC instrumentation functions
- How several DSC parameters can be optimised when developing a DSC method
- Why we use DSC
- The use of DSC to evaluate information about samples such as providing precise/accurate melting points and amorphous and crystalline content
- Why heat flux DSC may be preferred to power compensation DSC
- Why DSC can provide both qualitative and quantitative information of a sample
- Where DSC is involved
- Common sample preparation techniques for DSC, the importance of accurately weighing a sample and having a maximum surface area to volume ratio
- Where DSC can aid in the analysis of both inorganic and organic compounds in various samples matrices
- When DSC is the right choice
- Learn when DSC has been used in various industries such as pharmaceutical analysis, glass transition analysis, polymer characterisation and material purity assessments
- Explore real-life case studies using DSC and apply your newly learned knowledge to scenarios involving DSC analysis
What knowledge will I gain?
By the end of the course, you will:
- Understand the principles and concepts of DSC
- Know the terminology behind DSC and how to apply it to workflows
- Feel confident discussing DSC, sample preparation, the pro and cons of different DSC pans
- Understand a thermal analysis curve and what information can be learnt from the results
- Understand chemical concepts such as endothermic and exothermic transitions, specific heat capacity and enthalpy
This course gives you the language and understanding needed to use DSC in everyday lab life.
Is this course for me?
This training is designed for anyone who needs an introduction to DSC, including:
- For beginners to DSC
- Analysts & technicians wanting a clear, structured refresher
- Laboratory or line managers overseeing DSC within the lab
- Data analysts and report writers who interpret results but don’t use the instruments
- Service and consultant engineers who use DSC
- Sales, marketing or commercial teams working with DSC systems, consumables, data or laboratory services
If DSC touches your work in any way, this well-planned course delivered by experts in the field equips you to understand how to apply this to your everyday work.
Select the courses you are interested in:
Feedback from previous attendees
“Being able to discuss the theory, application and practicalities all in one place is very helpful. This is a great way to understand and learn for me. The venue was fantastic, I hadn’t really prepared myself for the fantastic instruments display, and the equipment on the lab tour was extraordinary.” Development Chemist, 2025
“The small number of delegates allowed for a greater number of questions to be asked and answered.” R+D Technician, 2025
