Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) Sample Testing

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) is used to measure linear displacement of a material as a function of temperature. The technique provides information on softening point, heat distortion, and transition temperatures, as well as the coefficient of linear expansion (CTE). We offer numerous TMA modes, including:

Expansion - used to determine CTE and to measure glass transitions
Compression - used to measure compression modulus
Penetration - used to evaluate coating softening points
Three-Point Bending - used for distortion measurements
Tension - primarily used for films and fibers, and for CTE in the machine and transverse directions
Our TMA instrumentation spans a temperature range from -150ºC to 1000ºC with controlled cooling from 400ºC to -60ºC, which is ideal for thermal cycling experiments. Programmed heating rates of 0.01ºC/min to 200ºC/min are possible. Helium is typically used as the purge gas.

Modulated Thermomechanical Analysis

Thermomechanical analysis is highly sensitive to dimensional changes. Modulated TMA allows the separation of overlapping thermal events.

The reversing component includes events that are related to thermal expansion, including:

Glass transition
Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)
The non-reversing component includes kinetic effects, which are time-dependent at a particular temperature.

These include:

Deformation due to stress relaxation and heat shrinking
Softening under load