Investigations of the Sub-Ambient Transitions in Frozen Sucrose by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC®)

40% w/w sucrose/water solutions were analyzed by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry [1] in the sub-ambient temperature region. At these temperatures, the solutions exhibit a complex, two-step thermal event. The lower-temperature event is believed to be the glass transition of the amorphous sucrose phase. The nature of the higher-temperature event is the subject of controversy. This event has been shown to have distinct second-order characteristics, and as such is believed to be a second Tg. Others feel that this event is the onset of melting. The temperature region between these events contains a devitrification exotherm. Through the use of MDSC, both in scanning and stepwise quasi-isothermal modes, improved sensitivity and resolution of MDSC provides new insight into the nature of these transitions.