Objective: To establish a measuring method for glass transition temperature of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) extract powder by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and provide a reference for application of glass transition theory in solid preparation process of TCM. Method: DSC was developed to determine glass transition temperature of TCM extract powder in order to confirm existence of glass transition phenomenon in TCM extract powder.Single factor tests were adopted to investigate effects of thermal history

flow rate of carrier gas

heating rate

sample volume and other parameters on glass transition temperature

precision of this determination was investigated by Dixion. Result: Nitrogen as a carrier gas

flow rate of carrier gas was 40 mL · min-1

sample amount was 6 mg

heating rate was 10 mg · min-1.Outlier analysis showed under 95% confidence level

determination of glass transition temperature met requirements of test method.Glass transition temperature of Angelicae Sinensis Radix

Astragali Radix

Isatidis Radix

Crataegi Fructus

Lycii Fructus

Chrysanthemi Flos

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma

Shenlingcao were 68.9

77.0

75.8

35.8

3.4

56.0

56.3

80.0 ℃

respectively. Conclusion: This method is simple with good precision

which can be used to determine glass transition temperature of TCM extract powder.