Polymers

Because the glass transition is one of the major predictors of polymer behavior in amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers, thermal analysis is closely associated with polymers.

These include:

• Thermoplastics – materials that can be reheated without changing

  • Glass transitions

  • Melting point

  • Crystallization behavior (controlled cooling, isothermal, on reheating)

  • Initial crystallinity by HyperDSC™

  • Overlapping transitions by MDSC™ or StepScan™

  • Heat capacity

  • Thermal Conductivity by MDSC™

  • Filler content

  • Composition (TGA and FTIR)

  • OIT

  • Modulus and damping

  • Stress, Strain and Frequency Effects

  • Time Temperature Superposition

  • CTE

• Thermosets – materials that cure and change dramatically after heating

  • Most thermoplastic tests on cured forms

  • Degree of cure

  • Curing onset and energy

  • Relationship between degree of cure and properties

  • Viscosity profile of cure

  • Off-gassing and residual ash content

  • Residual cure

• Rubbers and elastomers – materials with their glass transition below room temperature

  • Glass transition and other tests from above

  • Composition analysis in TGA

  • Oxidative Induction Time

  • Rheological properties from DMA

Heat-Cool-Heat Experiment on Nylon Blend