2.4. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry was conducted using a Mettler Toledo (Columbus, OH, USA) DSC 3 and the DSC STARe System to analyze the thermal stability of the materials by obtaining endothermic peak temperatures. The DSC samples were both wet and dry. The dry samples were unchanged from the retail purchase. The wet (paste) samples were prepared by measuring 100–150 mg of each material into a clean aluminum boat and adding 50% by weight deionized water with a clean glass pipette. The paste was thoroughly mixed for 1 min. The samples were prepared freshly immediately before each paste DSC run. A total of 1.56–4.64 mg of each powder sample and 3.98–6.38 mg of each paste sample were weighed accurately and placed into an aluminum DSC pan and hermetically sealed. An empty pan was also hermetically sealed to be used as a reference. Both pans were placed into the module for the experiment. All samples were heated from 20–150 °C at a heating rate 5 °C/min. Nitrogen was used as a purge gas at flow rates of 30 or 50 mL/min, depending on the run, to clear out the materials for the next run. All DSC runs were analyzed to find the denaturation temperature (endothermic peak temperature) and the stable temperature processing ranges.