Microthermal analysis topography

Microthermal analysis is a recently introduced thermoanalytical technique that combines the principles of scanning probe microscopy with thermal analysis via replacement of the probe tip with a thermistor. This allows samples to be spatially scanned in terms of both topography and thermal conductivity, whereby placing the probe on a specific region of a sample and heating, it is possible to perform localized thermal analysis experiments on those regions. 

Microthermal analysis is being developed as a tool for carrying out studies in a nnmber of areas including morphology, topography, glass transitions, depth probing, and phase separation studies. 

Other thermally based techniques, which have been developed in recent years include thermal volatilisation (Chapter 5), dynamic mechanical analysis (Chapter 8), thermomechanical analysis (Chapter 9), microthermal analysis (Chapter 10) and dielectric thermal analysis (Chapter 12). These have been used in phase transition studies, resin cure, modulus measurement, stress-strain studies, viscoelastic and rheological properties, morphology, topography, mechanical and thermal properties. 

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