Thermal Analysis Excellence

According to the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC), thermal analysis is a group of techniques in which a physical property of a substance is measured as a function of temperature while the substance is subjected to a controlled temperature program.

Thermal analysis comprises of a series of complementary techniques. Which technique is chosen depends on the properties that are being studied. The techniques are:

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): Measures the heat flow into or out of sample. Sensor output is in Watts (W).
  
• Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA): Measures the changes of mass. Sensor output is in milligram (mg).
  
• Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA): Measures the change of length of a sample. Sensor output is in micrometers (µm).
  
• Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA): Measures the modulus (storage/loss) of a material (unit Pascal (Pa)) as a function of time, temperature, or frequency. An additional output is the unitless calculated damping factor tangent delta.
  
• Thermo-Optical Analysis (TOA): Provides visual aid to observe physical effects during a thermal analysis measurement. Optical devices can be added on to the DSC or HP DSC, as well as to the Hot Stages.

Thermal analysis can help with the determination of properties and transitions such as glass transition (Tg), melting point (Tm), evaporation, crystallization, phase transitions, decomposition, coefficient of thermal expansion, dimensional change, elastic modulus (G’), loss modulus (G’’), damping factor (tan delta), reaction enthalpy and kinetics, influence of additives, composition, thermal stability, softening temperature, and curing reactions.