Thermal Analysis
Thermal analysis is a critical component in the study of polymers and plastics across various industries. The process involves measuring physical properties, transitions, and aging processes, as well as the effects of additives and diverse production conditions on materials. Understanding these properties is essential to enhance the performance of materials, ensure they meet specifications for the desired end-use, and address product failure analysis.
Thermal analysis experts deploy a range of thermal techniques to reveal a detailed understanding of polymer formulations, the impact of processing, and the final physical properties of materials. The insights obtained through thermal analysis accelerate the product development process and deliver the knowledge needed to make decisions regarding quality control, research and development, or to address failure.
Polymers are complex materials, and to analyze them thoroughly, one must use a comprehensive suite of thermal analysis techniques. The four main techniques include Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA), and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Additionally, other tests and procedures such as Thermal Glass Transition analysis (Tg), Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), Dielectric Spectroscopy (DETA), and Vicat softening point methods are also used.
DSC is widely used to examine chemical and physical transitions of polymers, such as chemical curing, analysis of chemical decomposition, glass transition, melting and crystallization phase, which provide invaluable insight into the material's behavior. DMA, on the other hand, is used to measure behaviors such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, mechanical damping, and viscoelastic behaviors. It is a highly sensitive technique that recognizes small transitional regions beyond the resolution of DSC.
To assess a polymer's useful lifetime, short and long-term heat aging programs and weathering studies in conjunction with thermal analysis approaches (such as TGA and DSC) are conducted to study thermal decomposition, thermal stability, oxidative degradation, or aging analysis in different atmospheres.
The insight gained from these techniques enables researchers to more fully understand their product or process, compare different lots and batches, and deploy competitor product studies. Polymer scientists have years of experience in characterizing challenging materials, working with innovative organizations globally, helping them to develop new materials and optimize processes across diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, industrial polymer production, and stakeholders in the polymer supply chain.