Hexon Hot Stage Microscope

Hot stage microscopy is preferred over conventional microscopy because it combines real-time visual observation with precise temperature control, enabling dynamic study of thermal transitions and structural changes that are not possible with standard microscopy. This advanced technique provides researchers with the ability to analyze materials as they are subjected to heating or cooling, allowing direct, in-situ observation of events such as melting, crystallization, phase transitions, and polymorphism that are critical in fields like pharmaceuticals, materials science, and nanotechnology

Advantages Over Conventional Microscopy

• Thermal Control: Hot stage microscopy allows controlled heating and cooling, often in a programmable manner, across wide temperature ranges (e.g., −40 °C to 600 °C), something not possible in conventional microscopy.
• Real-Time Observation of Transitions: The technique enables the observation of dynamic processes such as melting, crystallization, desolvation, and glass transitions as they occur, providing insight into both structural and chemical changes within the sample.
• Enhanced Phase Transition Detection: While traditional thermal analysis techniques like DSC and TGA provide numerical data on phase transitions, hot stage microscopy visually reveals even minor changes that might be missed, reducing ambiguities and misinterpretations.
• Complementary and Stand-alone Uses: Hot stage microscopy is often used alongside other analysis tools (e.g., FTIR, Raman, X-ray, SEM) for a comprehensive characterization, but it can also serve as a stand-alone technique for solid-state studies and quality control.
• Versatility: Suitable for a broad range of materials—polymers, pharmaceuticals, metals, catalysts, and even nanomaterials—hot stage systems offer flexible sample environments (open, closed, inert, oxidizing, etc.).