To study phase-transition kinetics on submillisecond time scale a set of new membrane gauges for ultrafast scanning nanocalorimetry were constructed. Controlled ultrafast cooling, as well as heating, up to 10(6) K/s was attained. The maximum cooling rate is inversely proportional to the radius of the heated region, which was in the range 10-100 mu m for different gauges. The minimum addenda heat capacity was 3 nJ/K. A model describing dynamics of the temperature distribution in the membrane-gas system at ultrafast heating and cooling was developed. The characteristic rate R-0 corresponding to the quasi-static limit of the temperature change in the membrane-gas system was determined. The rate R-0 equals 105 K/s for the different gauges in helium gas. The new calorimetric cells in combination with common differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied for the measurements of superheating in a set of linear polymers. A power law relation between the superheating and the heating rate was observed in the broad heating rate range 10(-2) to 10(5) K/s. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.