Variable temperature polarizing microscopy

Differential scanning calorimetry is widely used to obtain phase information. Many phase diagrams are inferred from calorimetric data jointly with some other techniques. Calorimetry has been used extensively for physical studies of polar lipids and provides invaluable information about the numerical values of the thermodynamic variables [9]. A sample cannot be viewed during calorimetric studies, but in combination with observations in hot stage microscopy (with common and/or polarized light) the nature of phase transitions and their temperature can be determined. 

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