Differential thermal analysis quantitative aspects

Differential scanning calorimetry is an alternative to differential thermal analysis (DTA) for measurement of transition temperatures of polymers, especially where a determination has a quantitative aspect. 

This chapter describes various aspects of thermal studies conducted on CaS04 2H20 and a and P forms of CaS04 /2H20, using differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry. The effect of environmental conditions on the quantitative deterioration of the various calcium sulfate compounds is also examined. The development of more recent techniques such as controlled reaction thermal analysis is also presented.t ... 

Despite the delay and difficulties in derivation of a suitable theoretical treatment for differential thermal analysis, it is clear that such derivations have not only justified certain aspects that had been empirically established—such as the relationship between peak area and amount of reactant and the necessity for dilution of the specimen with reference material— but have also revealed aspects that were not fully appreciated—such as the fact that the proportionality relationship holds strictly only for a ATf curve and the importance of heat conduction along thermocouple wires. Further developments in quantitative application obviously depend on designing experimental conditions compatible with those demanded by theory Wilburn [1972]. 

Physical and chemical characterization methods are essential to assess aspects such as material and processing quality. Raman microprobe is an analytical tool coupled to an optical microscope. Elemental analysis using the x-rays emitted from the specimens in the electronic microscopy techniques can be used for local composition determination or to obtain a map of the distribution of a certain element in a wider area wavelength and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometers are used for these purposes. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer is widely used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of adhesives, the identification of unknown chemical compounds, and the characterization of chemical reactions. Thermal methods such as thermomechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry are discussed as valuable tools for obtaining information during postfracture analysis of adhesively bonded joints. 

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