Temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry as a specific heat spectroscopy

The ability of modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) technique to perform a specific heat spectroscopy is examined by comparing MDSC results with those of alternating current calorimetry technique. The comparison is performed on three glass formers: glycerol, propylene glycol and salol. Both techniques give rise to similar activation energies, fragility index in and non-exponential parameters beta for the different compounds. It shows the relevance of the MDSC technique in providing a convenient laboratory probe of the molecular mobility. MDSC data are also compared with available dielectric results. This allows a check on the consistency of the results with regard to the differences between calorimetric and dielectric analysis.