Thermomechanical analysis expansion-mode

Thermomechanical Analysis. A thermomechanical analyzer (Perkln-Elmer TMS 2) was used to measure glass transition temperature (Tg) and coefficient of thermal expansion (a ) of completely cured samples In the penetration and expansion modes respectively. Experimental conditions are listed In Table I. 

This system is expanded to the thermomechanical analysis capability which requires the measurement of length in a penetration, expansion, or extension mode. The basis of this analysis has been discussed in the literature. The relationships of the thermal expansivity a and the length 1 of a sample with respect to temperature and tensile force f are expressed as follows... 

Evaluation of the necessary characteristic parameters in equation 27a proceeds as follows. One can use the thermomechanical analysis (TMA) in the expansion mode and determine at the atmospheric pressure, the dependence of specific volume V on temperature T. By fitting the experimental results to equation 27b one obtains the characteristic parameters v and T. If one performs full P-V-T determination [this can be done with the so-called Gnomix apparatus (59) used also by us to advantage (60)], then one represents experimental results by equation 27a and finds by a least-squares procedure the parameters P, v, and T. ... 

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) measures the deformation of a material contacted hy a mechanical prohe, as a function of a controlled temperature program, or time at constant temperature. TMA experiments are generally conducted imder static loading with a variety of probe configurations in expansion, compression, penetration, tension, or flexime. In addition, various attachments are available to allow the instrument to operate in special modes, such as stress relaxation, creep, tensile loading of films and fibers, flexural loading, parallel-plate rheometry, and volume dilatometry. The type of probe used determines the mode of operation of the instrument, the manner in which stress is apphed to the sample, and the amount of that stress. 

Thermomechanical analysis in the tension mode can be employed in the production of films and fibers to follow the consistency of the product during manufacturing, and to characterize properties of the product, such as CLTE, thermal shrinkage and shrinkage force, and physical properties like Tg and T. All these properties are important, and they determine the end-use possibilities. For example, matching fiber-matrix expansion properties is necessary to avoid delamination of components, such as in tire cords. Shrinkage (i.e., irreversible contraction) is important to avoid in textiles for safe ironing, and it is also an important property in heat-shrink films (Jaffe et al. 1997). 

Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) measures unidirectional dimensional changes in materials as functions of time, temperature and applied force. The TMA measurements are coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE), glass transition temperatures (Tg) and softening points (Ts). Newer applications of TMA include elasticity, melt viscosity, and heat deflection temperature. In addition to traditional TMA instruments, many modem dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) instruments can operate in a TMA (static force) mode. The main differences between the two types of instruments are the size of the specimens and the materials used to fabricate the measurement fixtures (stage, probe, clamps, etc.). Most TMA instruments use quartz, while DMTA instruments use larger steel components. The specimens used in these experiments are... 

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