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Thermal analysis is a group of techniques that measure the physical and chemical changes that occur in a material as a function of temperature. These techniques are used to characterize materials and to study the changes that occur during processing, storage, and use. The most common thermal analysis techniques are:
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measures the change in mass of a material as a function of temperature. This technique can be used to determine the composition of a material, to study the thermal stability of a material, and to identify the decomposition products of a material.
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures the heat flow into or out of a material as a function of temperature. This technique can be used to determine the specific heat of a material, to study the phase transitions of a material, and to identify the thermal reactions that occur in a material.
- Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measures the mechanical properties of a material as a function of temperature. This technique can be used to determine the elastic modulus, the damping factor, and the glass transition temperature of a material.
Thermal analysis techniques are used in a wide variety of fields, including materials science, polymer science, food science, and pharmaceutical science.