Device for controlling the temperature of a test sample

A method for measuring material properties of a test sample and subsequently cooling the test sample using a device for controlling the temperature of a test sample in a measuring unit for measuring material properties of the test sample, comprising a measuring cell for receiving the test sample, at least one temperature controlling element, and a thermal storage element coupled to the at least one temperature controlling element to transfer heat, wherein means are provided for changing the thermal resistance between the thermal storage element and the measuring cell in order to selectively couple or decouple the thermal storage element and the measuring cell in terms of heat transfer, comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring the material properties of the test sample at a measuring temperature;
• b) before and/or during step a):
• cooling the thermal storage element in the state decoupled from the measuring cell in terms of heat transfer, by using the at least one temperature controlling element;
• c) after steps a) and b):
• reducing the thermal resistance between the thermal storage element and the measuring cell in order to couple the thermal storage element and the measuring cell to transfer heat;
• d) continuously transferring heat from the measuring cell to the thermal storage element in a single step, while the test sample is cooled from the measuring temperature to a temperature suitable for removing the test sample;
• and
• e) removing the test sample,
• wherein no step of cooling the thermal storage element is carried out during a time period from the beginning of step d) until the end of step e), and
• wherein a ratio of a thermal capacity of the thermal storage element to a thermal capacity of the measuring cell is greater than at least 2:1.