Materials are increasingly required in situations that challenge the thresholds of their thermal capabilities. It is therefore important to understand material behaviour under the influence of thermal loads. Thermal analysis techniques provide important information for the design engineer. The techniques can be used to analyse most materials in use today in a large number of applications such as metals, polymers, composites, coatings, pharmaceuticals, films, fibres, ceramics and even biological materials and foods. NPL's thermal analysis capabilities enable rapid determination of thermal properties over wide temperature ranges and help develop best practice for testing and data analysis of materials.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques can provide data for specific heat capacity, mechanical properties and mass change information, over low and high temperature ranges. We can advise on the best methods available for an application. Our current research is improving the reliability and temperature ranges of these measurements when using different methods. NPL is developing procedures based on these techniques that can be used to design products based on existing materials, select the best material for a given application, predict its performance, optimise processing conditions, improve quality, compare properties of similar or competitive materials and characterise newer research materials.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
DSC is a rapid technique that measures the heat flow associated with material transitions as a function of temperature, time and atmosphere.
TA Q2000
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Measurement properties
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Melting, glass transition, crystallisation, phase changes, specific heat capacity, OIT
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Temperature range
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-90 °C to 450 °C or ambient to 725 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Nitrogen, argon, air, helium
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Materials
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All types of polymeric materials, metals/alloys, gels, powders, liquids
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Test specimens
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Uses milligram quantities of sample.
For specific heat capacity, a disc geometry specimen is needed for better accuracy
(4.8 mm thickness / 1 mm maximum thickness)
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to most standards or customer specifications
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Setaram 96 Line EVO
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Measurement properties
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Melting, crystallisation, phase changes, specific heat capacity
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Temperature range
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300 °C to 1600 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Nitrogen, argon
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Materials
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Suitable for metals/alloys
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Test specimens
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Cylindrical geometry (4.5 mm diameter/14 mm long)
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to customer specifications
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Netzsch 404 F1
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Measurement properties
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Melting, glass transition, crystallisation, phase changes, specific heat capacity, OIT
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Temperature range
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50 °C to 1600 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Nitrogen, argon
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Materials
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Suitable for metals/alloys and polymeric materials
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Test specimens
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Disc geometry (4.8 mm diameter/1 mm maximum thickness)
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to most standards or customer specifications
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Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MT DSC)
MT DSC helps separate overlapping and complex transitions in a material under test and is a useful complement to the standard DSC analysis.
TA Q2000
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Measurement properties
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Melting, glass transition, crystallisation, phase changes, specific heat capacity
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Temperature range
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-90 °C to 450 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Nitrogen, argon, air, helium
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Materials
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All types of polymeric materials, gels, powders, liquids
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Test specimens
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Uses milligram quantities of sample.
For specific heat capacity, a disc geometry specimen is needed for better accuracy
(4.8 mm thickness / 1 mm maximum thickness)
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to all available standards for this technique or customer specifications
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Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
DMA is a versatile technique that measures the mechanical properties of the material as a function of the time, temperature and frequency. It is widely used to measure the glass transition and other secondary transitions
TA Q800
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Temperature range
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ambient to 600 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Static air, nitrogen (Access to testing under different levels of humidity also possible)
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Test modes
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Flexure (single/dual cantilever, 3 point bend, tension, compression, shear sandwich)
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Frequency range
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0.01 Hz to 200 Hz
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Force
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0.001 N to 18 N
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Heating rate
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Materials
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All types of polymeric materials, gels, metals, films, fibres
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Test specimens
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Varied and depends on the test mode. A bar geometry specimen is generally used in the single cantilever bend mode (L=35 mm, W=8 to 10 mm, T=2 to 5 mm)
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to most standards for this technique or customer specifications
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RSA G2
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Temperature range
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ambient to 600 °C
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Test atmospheres
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Static air, nitrogen. Access to testing under liquid immersion possible
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Test modes
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Flexure (single/dual cantilever, 3 point bend, tension, compression). Access to simultaneous or standalone dielectric testing also possible
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Frequency range
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0.01 Hz to 100 Hz
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Force
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0.0005 N to 35 N
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Heating rate
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0.1 to 60 °C/min
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Materials
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All types of polymeric materials, gels, metals, films, fibres
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Standards and test methods
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Testing can be undertaken to most standards for this technique or customer specifications
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Thermo Mechanical Analysis (TMA)
TMA measures dimensional changes in a material as a function of time, temperature and the applied force.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
TGA measures weight changes in a material as a function of temperature, time in a given atmosphere. The determination of the absorbed or bound moisture and other volatiles, are important parameters to assess a material for their analyses for product performance and environmental acceptance.
Evolved Gas Analysis (using TGA-FTIR interface)
TGA-FTIR is used to monitor the evolved gas products resulting from a material under test. The results can be an indicator to study the decomposition behaviour of the material and monitor evaporation and other chemical reactions in real time.