# Thermal Analysis Application Brief Determination of Polymer Crystallinity by DSC

> SummaryPerhaps no fundamental property affects the physical properties of a polymer in so general a way as the degree of crystallinity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) provides a rapid method for determining polymer crystallinity based on the heat required to melt the polymer. IntroductionAn understanding of the degree of crystallinity for a polymer is important since […]

Source: https://covalent.com/resource-library/thermal-analysis-application-brief-determination-of-polymer-crystallinity-by-dsc/
Updated: 2026-05-07T22:56:04+00:00

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# Thermal Analysis Application Brief Determination of Polymer Crystallinity by DSC

 [![Thermal Analysis Application Brief Determination of Polymer Crystallinity by DSC](https://spcdn.shortpixel.ai/spio/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_auto,s_webp:avif/covalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Thermal-Analysis-Application-Brief-Determination-of-Polymer-Crystallinity-by-DSC.jpg)](https://covalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TA-Instruments-AppNote-Determination-of-Polymer-Crystallinity-by-DSC.pdf)

Jun 12, 2021

**Summary**
Perhaps no fundamental property affects the physical properties of a polymer in so general a way as the degree of crystallinity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) provides a rapid method for determining polymer crystallinity based on the heat required to melt the polymer.

**Introduction**
An understanding of the degree of crystallinity for a polymer is important since crystallinity affects physical properties such as storage modulus, permeability, density, and melting point. While most of these manifestations of crystallinity can be measured, a direct measure of degree of crystallinity provides a fundamental property from which these other physical properties can be predicted. Differential [scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a technique](https://covalent.com/techniques/morphology-structural-analysis/) which measures heat flow into or out of a material as a function of time or temperature. Polymer crystallinity can be determined with DSC by quantifying the heat associated with melting (fusion) of the polymer. This heat is reported as % crystallinity by ratioing against the heat of fusion for a 100% crystalline sample of the same material, or more commonly by ratioing against a polymer of known crystallinity to obtain relative values.

[Click here to download the Application](https://covalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TA-Instruments-AppNote-Determination-of-Polymer-Crystallinity-by-DSC.pdf)

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