Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis is the measurement of changes in chemical or physical properties of a sample as a function of temperature. At the Institute of Materials Processing a DuPont 2100 Thermal Analyst is used to make these measurements. The following modules are available with the Thermal Analysis Unit:

DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis) DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) TMA (Thermomechanical Analyzer)

The thermal analytical equipment is used as an analytical tool to measure the following physical and reactive properties of substances based on temperature:

• Thermal decomposition of solids and liquids
• Solid-solid and solid-gas chemical reactions
• Material specification, purity, and identification
• Inorganic solid material adsorption
• Phase transformations.

The above information can be used to characterize polymers, organic or inorganic chemicals, metals or other common classes of materials.