The term thermal analysis refers to a collection of analytical techniques which provide information about materials by measuring structural and property changes occurring in response to changes in temperature. A number of these techniques are particularly suited to the study of polymeric materials; reflecting structural changes unique to substances composed of large extended chain molecules. For example polymeric materials exhibit broad molecular weight distributions and viscoelastic behaviour and may contain both amorphous and crystalline regions within the same matrix. The techniques which are particularly relevant to polymer characterisation are evaluated in this new report. The report comprises an expert overview written by Michael Sepe of Dickten and Masch Manufacturing, together with more than 300 key references and abstracts selected from the Polymer Library.

For each technique the author describes the method of operation and the output obtained, and then considers its application to polymer characterisation, e.g. in analysing composition, measuring Tg or predicting service life. Examples are included of recent advances and novel applications.