Market leaders in temperature controlled microscopy, Linkam Scientific

Instruments, in partnership with Cyversa announce the availability of VISTA, a

visual approach to thermal analysis. The product made its debut at last month’s

TAC 2015 Conference at Churchill College Cambridge.

Linkam Scientific Instruments have collaborated with renowned UK inventor and

innovating researcher, Professor Mike Reading of the University of Huddersfield.

They have developed a product line of instrumentation based on new technologies

that are announced at the 50th Anniversary meeting of the UK’s Thermal Methods

Group at Churchill College, Cambridge.

VISTA offers a new approach to thermal analysis through a visualisation-throughsoftware

approach. The first phase of VISTA combines the characterisation power

of thermal analysis with the imaging capabilities of modern optical microscopy. In

a typical thermal analysis experiment, the sample is ‘hidden’ from the operator

within the depths of the instrument and the only means of understanding what is

happening during the measurement is from the instruments transducer (mass,

length, heat flow, modulus etc.)

Linkam’s Imaging Station is at the heart of the VISTA system and when combined

with their new DSC600 VISTA hot stage, enables images of the sample to be

simultaneously captured during an experiment. An image processing software

module from Cyversa analyses these images to produce thermal curves based upon

the changes in sample features observed during the experiment.

The image analysis produces curves that are complimentary to DSC and enable the

characterisation of melting, softening and even dissolution behaviour by tracking

features observed on the surface of the sample as it is heated or cooled. This new

analytical method is called TASC (Thermal Analysis by Structural Characterisation).

Unlike DSC, sensitivity is not reduced with smaller samples and lower heating rates

and whilst DSC is a bulk measurement tool, TASC enables individual regions

of the sample to be measured and analysed. TASC is the first of a family of

analytical modes for the VISTA platform delivering a collection of patented

techniques that enable a visual approach to thermal analysis and materials

characterisation. VISTA is modular, meaning new modes may be added as

laboratory requirements change and grow.

To learn more about Linkam and their approach to the development of temperature

stages to address multiple applications challenges, please visit www.linkam.co.uk.

About Linkam Scientific Instruments

Linkam develops and manufactures a broad range of temperature controlled stages

from high to cryo temperatures for both OEM and end users. These are used in

conjunction with light microscopes and a wide range of analytical techniques

including Raman, FTIR, WAX/SAX and other X-ray techniques to visualise and

characterise the properties of materials. Linkam stages are found in thousands of

laboratories worldwide with the most successful microscope heating stage, the

THMS600, selling over 5,000 units alone. Linkam is the market leader in temperature

controlled microscopy.