Dynamic mechanical analysis method

Dynamic mechanical analysis methods are frequently used to investigate polymerization and curing processes in reactive systems. These methods allow us to obtain both relative and absolute rheological characteristics of a material. Measurements can be made in both the fluid and solid states without affecting the inherent structure of the polymerizing system. 

One of most popular techniques for dynamic mechanical analysis is the torsion pendulum method. In a modification of this method designed to follow curing processes, a torsion bar is manufactured from a braid of fibers impregnated with the composition to be studied this is the so-called torsional braid analysis (TBA) method.61 62,148 The forced harmonic oscillation method has been also used and has proven to be valuable. This method employs various types of rheogoniometers and vibroreometers,1 9,150 which measure the absolute values of the viscoelastic properties of the system under study these properties can be measured at any stage of the process. The use of computers further contributes to improvements in dynamic mechanical analysis methods for rheokinetic measurements. As will be seen below, new possibilities are opened up by applying computer methods to results of dynamic measurements. 

Glass transition temperature, Tg, and storage modulus, E , were measured to explore how the pigment dispersion affects the material (i.e. cross-link density) and mechanical properties. Both Tg and E were determined from dynamic mechanical analysis method using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA, TA Instruments RSA III) equipped with transient testing capability. A minimum of 3 to 4 specimens were analyzed from each sample. The estimated uncertainties of data are one-standard deviation. 

The dynamic mechanical analysis method deter-minesl l elastic modulus (or storage modulus, G ), viscous modulus (or loss modulus, G"), and damping coefficient (tan A) as a function of temperature, frequency or time. Results are usually in the form of a graphical plot of G, G", and tan A as a function of temperature or strain. DMA may also be used for quality control and product development purposes. 

Analytical methods to probe adhesion have also advanced. Dynamic mechanical analysis methods have been found especially useful in investigating the cure process of epoxy resins and in research on pressure-sensitive formulations. Widely used is torsional braid analysis Surface investigation avails itself of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Other investigative approaches to following the cure of epoxies include dielectric spectroscopy and viscosity-dependent fluorescent probe. 

Glass-transition temperatures are commonly determined by differential scanning calorimetry or dynamic mechanical analysis. Many reported values have been measured by dilatometric methods however, methods based on the torsional pendulum, strain gauge, and refractivity also give results which are ia good agreement. Vicat temperature and britde poiat yield only approximate transition temperature values but are useful because of the simplicity of measurement. The reported T values for a large number of polymers may be found ia References 5, 6, 12, and 13. 

Crosslinked polymer networks formed from multifunctional acrylates are completely insoluble. Consequently, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy becomes an attractive method to determine the degree of crosslinking of such polymers (1-4). Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the homopolymerization kinetics of various diacrylates and to distinguish between constrained and unconstrained, or unreacted double bonds in polymers (5,6). Solid-state NMR techniques can also be used to determine the domain sizes of different polymer phases and to determine the presence of microgels within a poly multiacrylate sample (7). The results of solid-state NMR experiments have also been correlated to dynamic mechanical analysis measurements of the glass transition (1,8,9) of various polydiacrylates. 

An associated technique which links thermal properties with mechanical ones is dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). In this, a bar of the sample is typically fixed into a frame by clamping at both ends. It is then oscillated by means of a ceramic shaft applied at the centre. The resonant frequency and the mechanical damping exhibited by the sample are sensitive measurements of the mechanical properties of a polymer which can be made over a wide range of temperatures. The effects of compositional changes and methods of preparation can be directly assessed. DMA is assuming a position of major importance in the study of the physico-chemical properties of polymers and composites. 

ASTM E 1640-99, ASTM Book of Standards 2002. Standard Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis . ASTM International, Conshohocken, PA. 

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) or dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) provides a method for determining elastic and loss moduli of polymers as a function of temperature, frequency or time, or both [1-13]. Viscoelasticity describes the time-dependent mechanical properties of polymers, which in limiting cases can behave as either elastic solids or viscous liquids (Fig. 23.2). Knowledge of the viscoelastic behavior of polymers and its relation to molecular structure is essential in the understanding of both processing and end-use properties. 

Tg values can be determined via either calorimetric, dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) or mechanical dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements. However, since three dimensional highly crosslinked systems have relatively small amounts of molecular motion, the DSC method is not particularly sensitive for Tg determination [131,132]. Fry and Lind have reported that DSC is misleading, as reactive groups are often sufficiently entrapped in the vitrified structure to give spurious results [133]. 

For certain clearcoat systems a partial healing of scratches can be observed on the time scale. In literature this is known as the reflow effect [21], Thermal relaxation phenomena may be used for a physical explanation of this effect. In connection with scratch resistance the cross-linking density of clearcoats is also a decisive factor. Meanwhile, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) has been established as a method to determine cross-linking density [21-23],... 

In this section we are going to examine such viscoelastic properties in some detail and we will start by examining in turn three important mechanical methods of measurement creep, stress relaxation, and dynamic mechanical analysis. This will lead us to interesting things like time-temperature equivalence and a discussion of the molecular basis of what we have referred to as relaxation behavior. 

A convenient method for determining transition times and transition temperatures of polymeric materials is dynamic mechanical analysis. One type of instrument which is particularly suitable for polymeric solids is the freely oscillating torsion pendulum (TP). Advantages of the TP include its simplicity, sensitivity, relatively low frequency ( 1 Hz) which permits direct correlation of transition temperatures with static nonmechanical methods (e.g., dilatometry and calorimetry), and its high resolution of transitions A major disadvantage of the conventional TP is that test temperatures are limited by the inability of materials to support their own weight near load-limiting transition temperatures. 

The recoverable deformation of the pellets was quantifled from the linear portion of the load/deformation profile obtained when measuring the strength of pellets by Aulton et al. (88). Alternatively, the elastic properties as a storage modulus" can be measured by the application of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) (89). The values obtained by this method for a series of pellet formulations were found to be considerably greater than those obtained by application of the former method (81). which must therefore be considered as an estimate of the real value. It did rank the pellet formulations in the same order as the DMA. 

Pellicle and tea-immersed pellicle were analyzed using nanoDMA (dynamic mechanical analysis) to see if the tannins had an effect on the viscoelasticity of the pellicle. NanoDMA is a technique used to study and characterize mechanical properties in viscoelastic materials. The method is an extension of nanoindentation testing [58, 59], An analysis of the nanoindentation load-depth curve gives the hardness (H) and reduced elastic modulus (E ), provided the area of contact, A, between the indenter tip and the sample is known [ 13]. By... 

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