Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis is a type of analytical technique used to study the physical and chemical
properties of a material as a function of temperature, time, and/or environment. It involves
applying heat or cooling to a sample and monitoring its physical and/or chemical
changes.Thermal analysis can be categorized into two main types:

 Isothermal analysis: In isothermal analysis, the temperature of the sample is held constant
while its physical and/or chemical properties are monitored over time. This technique is
useful for studying the kinetics of phase transformations, reactions, and degradation
processes.
 Non-isothermal analysis: In non-isothermal analysis, the temperature of the sample is
varied over time in a controlled manner, while its physical and/or chemical properties are
monitored. This technique is useful for studying the thermal stability, thermal behavior,
and phase transitions of materials.

DSC: A Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) measures temperatures of a reference

material and a sample while changing the sample temperature in accordance with a program, and
then measures the amount of heat from the temperature difference.

Measuring objects: Melting, Glass Transitions, Crystallization, Curing Reaction, Examination

of Thermal History, Specific Heat

Principle:

 When a furnace is heated, a sample and a reference material are heated at a slightly
slower rate than the furnace temperature.
 When the sample start to melt, the sample temperature stop rising (because of the heat
used for melting). However, the temperature of the reference material increases.
 After melting, the sample temperature rises again following the furnace temperature.
 (Sample temperature) - (Reference material temperature) corresponds to DSC signals.

Sample data of DSC:

The DSC curve shows a shift of the baseline around 77°C, indicating "glass transition". Also, an
exothermic peak is observed around 130°C, indicating an exothermic reaction caused by
crystallization. The endothermic peak observed at around 250°C refers to an endothermic
reaction by "melting". Crystallization after glass transition and subsequent melting were
observed, indicating that the sample was in an amorphous state with little crystallization by
quenching after heating.
For this reason, the thermal history of materials can be confirmed by measuring with a DSC
(differential scanning calorimeter).

dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA ):

Dynamic mechanical Analysis (DMA) is the study of the relationships between the sample’s
dimensions (length or volume) and its temperature under constant oscillating load, i. e. under
stress or strian. Stress is the force per unit area. Strain is the change of dimension to the original
one.

In DMA, the sample properties as elastic modulus and tensile strength are measured. Modulus is
the ratio of stress to strain.