Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC): An important tool for polymer identification and characterization of plastic marine debris.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a routine thermoanalytical method in material science, is gaining utility in plastic pollution research to improve polymer identification. We optimized a DSC method, experimentally testing pan types, temperature ramps, number of melts, and minimum sample masses. Using the optimized method, we created an in-house thermogram library from 201 polymer reference standards.