Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis encompasses a suite of scientific techniques used to investigate the physical and chemical properties of materials as a function of temperature. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) involves the identification and quantification of gases released from a sample as it is heated, providing insight into decomposition, volatilization, or other thermal reactions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measures the change in mass of a sample as it is heated or cooled, revealing information about composition, decomposition, and phase transitions. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) compares the temperature of a sample to that of a reference material as both are subjected to controlled heating or cooling, detecting phase transitions, reactions, and energy changes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures the heat flow into or out of a sample relative to a reference as temperature changes, enabling the characterization of phase transitions, reactions, and thermal stability. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) measures changes in a sample's dimensions (expansion or contraction) as a function of temperature or time, providing insights into mechanical properties, such as softening points and coefficients of thermal expansion. These techniques are widely used across various scientific disciplines, including materials science, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and polymer science, to understand thermal behavior, stability, and processing of materials.