Cleaning DSC Pans

 

The aluminum, gold, and copper pans and the high pressure capsules provided for use with TA Instruments DSC systems are manufactured to high quality standards, including cleaning to remove contaminants that might be present from the manufacturing process.  For most applications, these pans can be used as received; however, if the pans are used for high sensitivity experiments (e.g., oxidative stability), an additional cleaning process is recommended before use.  This procedure is taken from Appendix A of ASTM* standard E1858, Test Method for Oxidative Induction Time of Hydrocarbons by Differential Scanning Calorimeters.

Follow the steps below to clean the TA Instruments DSC sample pans:

  1. Place 200 pans in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask that has been fitted with a glass stopper.

  2. Add approximately 150 mL of reagent grade xylene (enough to cover the pans).

  3. Swirl the flask, containing the pans and xylene, for 0.5 to 2.0 min.

  4. Let the flask stand for 1.0 min.

  5. Decant the xylene out of the flask.

  6. Repeat steps 1 through 5.

  7. Add approximately 150 mL of reagent grade acetone after the second xylene wash.

  8. Swirl the flask, containing the pans and acetone, for 0.5 to 2.0 min.  

  9. Let the flask stand for 1.0 min.

  10. Decant the acetone out of the flask.

  11. Repeat steps 7 through 10.

  12. Rotate the flask—so that no pans adhere to the bottom or side of the flask—as you flow nitrogen at 150 to 200 mL/min over the wet pans to drive off the excess solvent.  This should take approximately 5 to 6 min.

  13. Return the cleaned pans to their storage container and record the date they were cleaned.

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* For more information write to ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA  19428-2959, (610) 832-9500.