Thermal analysis has proven to be one of the most important and meaningful test methods in the plastics industry and in testing laboratories. Although thermal analysis is used for fundamental studies related to materials science of polymers, its power lies in understanding this behavior during manufacturing processes. This understanding aids in process optimization, reduction of manufacturing cycle times, and failure analysis, while enabling an overall improvement in material properties and product quality.

In this book, the different test methods and their variations are described in detail, emphasizing the principles and their application in practice. Using practical examples, different approaches to problem solving are presented with a focus on the interpretation of the experimental results.

From the Preface: “...For [many] people, thermal analysis is first and foremost a working tool and not an end in itself. And it is for these people and the many others facing similar problems that we have written this book — to serve firstly as an aid to practical work, to handling instruments, preparing samples, estimating settings, interpreting results, assessing accuracy and reproducibility, warning against over-estimation, and critically assessing the interpretations. The second goal is to acquaint them with the many advantages and vast potential that thermoanalytical techniques have to offer...”

Target Audience: Technicians, engineers, laboratory specialists, quality analysts, scientists, project managers, and upper-level students concerned with thermal analysis of plastics.

Table of Contents:

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Oxidative Induction Time/Temperature (OIT)

Thermogravimetry (TG)

Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA)

pvT (pressure-volume-Temperature) Measurements

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

Micro-Thermal Analysis

Brief Characterization of Key Polymers

Index