Thermal analysis

Thermal analysis is a group of methods that measure how material properties change with temperature or heat flow. It reveals transitions, reactions, and stability through controlled heating or cooling.

Differential scanning calorimetry: A method that measures heat flow into or out of a sample relative to a reference during a programmed temperature change. It detects thermal events such as melting and glass transitions through their heat-flow signatures.
Glass transition: A reversible change in an amorphous material from a hard, glassy state to a softer, more mobile state. Differential scanning calorimetry and mechanical methods can locate this key polymer transition.
Heat capacity: The amount of heat required to raise a specified quantity of material by one degree. Heat-capacity differences contribute to the baseline and signal in calorimetric measurements.
Calorimetry: The measurement of heat exchanged during physical or chemical processes. Thermal analysis includes calorimetric methods but also tracks mass and mechanical properties.
Thermogravimetric analysis: A method that measures a sample’s mass as temperature or time changes under a controlled atmosphere. Its mass-loss and mass-gain curves reveal decomposition, oxidation, and volatile content.
Melting point: The temperature at which a solid and its liquid are in equilibrium at a specified pressure. A melting endotherm helps characterize crystalline materials and assess purity.
Enthalpy: A thermodynamic state function equal to a system’s internal energy plus pressure–volume product. Measured heat under constant pressure is commonly interpreted as an enthalpy change.
Heat-flux DSC: A differential scanning calorimetry design that infers sample heat flow from temperature differences across a sensor. It contrasts with power-compensation DSC in how differential heat flow is measured.
Differential thermal analysis: A method that records the temperature difference between a sample and reference while both follow a programmed temperature profile. It identifies endothermic and exothermic events by comparing sample and reference temperatures.
Thermal decomposition: The breakdown of a substance into simpler products caused by heat. Mass-loss measurements establish decomposition temperatures and compare material stability.

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