Thermomechanical Analysis

Duncan PriceIPTME, Loughborough University© Copyright: D.M.Price@lboro.ac.uk (2006)

introduction

Volume is a fundamental thermodynamic quantity.

Thermal expansivity () is a useful engineering quantity:

= (dL/dt)/Lo

Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) is the study of the relationships between a sample’s length (volume) and its temperature.

instrumentation

TMA probe types

TMA temperature calibration

thermal expansion of aluminium

printed circuit board

effect of load on TMA measurements

effect of cross linking on TMA penetration

effect of plasticisers

relationship between hardness and indentation

isothermal creep measurements

measurement of liquids

effect of chemical structure

effect of thermal history

effect of orientation

sample controlled thermodilatometry

dynamic load TMA

summary

Intrinsic Properties Process Properties Product Classifications

Tg, & probe displacement cure & crosslinking carbonaceous materialspolymerisation ceramics

viscoelastic properties solvent effects coatings Young’s modulus foaming construction materials creep phase behaviour composites stress relaxation flow modelling dental waxes tensile properties crystallisation elastomers viscosity drawing effects metalspolymers & copolymers viscosity pharmaceuticalspolymer blends mold stability textilespolymer morphology plastics

recommended reading

M. Reading and P.J. Haines; “Thermomechanical, dynamic mechanical and associated methods” in; P. J. Haines; “Thermal methods of analysis: Principles, Applications and Problems” Blackie, London (1995) pp.123-160.

A. T. Riga and C. M. Neag (Editors); “Materials Characterization by Thermomechanical Analysis”, ASTM STP 1136, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia (1991).

D. M. Price, “Thermomechanical and Thermoelectrical Methods”, in P.J. Haines (ed.) Principles of Thermal Analysis & Calorimetry, ch. 4, Royal Society of Chemistry,

Cambridge (2002) pp. 94-128.