Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Atoms, small, and large molecules 2 Basics of thermal analysis 3 Dynamics of chemical and phase changes 4 Thermal analysis tools 5 Structure and properties of materials 6 Single component materials 7 Multiple component materials App. A.1 Table of thermal properties of linear macromolecules and related small molecules - the ATHAS data bank App. A.2 Radiation scattering App. A.3 Derivation of the Rayleigh ratio App. A.4 Neural network predictions App. A.5 Legendre transformations, Maxwell relations, linking of entropy and probability, and derivation of (dS/dT) App. A.6 Boltzmann distribution, harmonic vibration, complex numbers, and normal modes App. A.7 Summary of the basic kinetics of chemical reactions App. A.8 The ITS 1990 and the Krypton-86 length standard App. A.9 Development of classical DTA to DSC App. A.10 Examples of DTA and DSC under extreme conditions App. A.11 Description of an online correction of the heat-flow rate App. A.12 Derivation of the heat-flow equations App. A.13 Description of sawtooth-modulation response App. A.14 An introduction to group theory, definitions of configurations and conformations, and a summary of rational and irrational numbers App. A.15 Summary of birefringence and polarizing microscopy App. A.16 Summary of X-ray diffraction and interference effects App. A.17 Optical analog of electron double diffraction to produce Moire patterns.

Presents a solid introduction to thermal analysis, methods, instrumentation, calibration, and application along with the necessary theoretical background. Useful to chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and engineers who are new to thermal analysis techniques, and to existing users of thermal analysis who wish expand their experience to new techniques and applications Topics covered include Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis (DSC/DTA), Thermogravimetry, Thermomechanical Analysis and Dilatometry, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Micro-Thermal Analysis, Hot Stage Microscopy, and Instrumentation. Written by experts in the various areas of thermal analysis Relevant and detailed experiments and examples follow each chapter.

Thermal analysis comprises a group of techniques used to determine the physical or chemical properties of a substance as it is heated, cooled, or held at constant temperature. It is particularly important for polymer characterization, but also has major application in analysis of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs. This comprehensive handbook presents practical and theoretical aspects of the key techniques of DSC, TGA, TMA, DMA, and related methods. It also includes separate chapters on the glass transition, polymers, polymorphism, purity determination, and method development. The large number of practical examples included should inspire readers toward new ideas for applications in their own fields of work. The chapters are independent of one another and can be read individually in any desired order. Based on years of experience in thermal analysis of users, application specialists, consultants, and course instructors, this book provides practical help to newcomers, inexperienced users, and anyone else interested in the practical aspects of thermal analysis.

MTDSC provides a step-change increase in the power of calorimetry to characterize virtually all polymer systems including curing systems, blends and semicrystalline polymers. It enables hidden transitions to be revealed, miscibility to be accurately assessed, and phases and interfaces in complex blends to be quantified. It also enables crystallinity in complex systems to be measured and provides new insights into melting behaviour. All of this is achieved by a simple modification of conventional DSC. In 1992 a new calorimetric technique was introduced that superimposed a small modulation on top of the conventional linear temperature program typically used in differential scanning calorimetry. This was combined with a method of data analysis that enabled the sample’s response to the linear component of the temperature program to be separated from its response to the periodic component. In this way, for the first time, a signal equivalent to that of conventional DSC was obtained simultaneously with a measure of the sample’s heat capacity from the modulation. The new information this provided sparked a revolution in scanning calorimetry by enabling new insights to be gained into almost all aspects of polymer characteristics. This book provides both a basic and advanced treatment of the theory of the technique followed by a detailed exposition of its application to reacting systems, blends and semicrystalline polymers by the leaders in all of these fields. It is an essential text for anybody interested in calorimetry or polymer characterization, especially if they have found that conventional DSC cannot help them with their problems.

From the reviews: "...This very well written new book is recommended to academic and industrial researchers and specialists interested in green polymers and mainly in their thermal properties...This new and opportune book covers some important properties of green polymers and bio-composites." (D. Feldman, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada)