TMA analysis laboratory
As an industrialist, you want to conduct TMA analysis of your materials?
What is TMA analysis?
TMA (Thermomechanical Analysis) is a thermal analysis technique used to measure changes in the physical properties of a material as a function of temperature (or sometimes time) under constant mechanical load.
ATM devices continuously record the deformation of a substance, under fixed load, while it is subjected to a controlled temperature program.
Any phase transitions in a substance can thus be detected. Amorphous plastics, for example, generally have several transitions.
This method of material characterization provides valuable information on the behavior of materials when subjected to temperature variations, such as thermal expansion, contraction, glass transition, deformation under load, and creep.
What parameters are analyzed with TMA?
The information obtained from TMA analysis is used in the materials design process, product research and development, and quality control for various materials including plastics, polymers, ceramics, metals and composites.
TMA can be used to determine the following properties :
- coefficient of thermal expansion
- glass transition
- melting and crystallization temperature
- thermal decomposition
- mechanical properties
For example, knowing a material’s coefficient of thermal expansion is essential for applications where materials will be exposed to temperature changes, to ensure dimensional compatibility and end-product performance.
TMA has the advantage of being a versatile analysis technique for exploring the thermal and mechanical properties of materials.
Why carry out TMA analysis in a laboratory ?
Laboratory Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) is essential for understanding the behavior of materials under variations in temperature and mechanical force. This technique is widely used in various industries to solve specific problems.
For example, in the aerospace industry, TMA is used to select the most suitable composite materials for aircraft structures, capable of withstanding extreme temperature variations and high mechanical stress during flight.
In the polymer and plastics industry, it helps determine the softening point of materials, crucial for the manufacture of components with precise thermal tolerances.
The automotive industry also uses TMA to test the thermal expansion of materials used in engines and braking systems, ensuring their reliability and safety under a wide range of operating conditions.
In short, TMA analysis provides a detailed understanding of material properties, enabling product innovation and improvement in a multitude of industrial sectors.
FILAB laboratory supports you in TMA analysis
Through our three levels of services: analysis, expertise and R&D support, FILAB assists companies in all sectors with their TMA analysis needs.
FILAB provides its customers with the know-how and experience of its team, as well as an analytical park equipped with state-of-the-art thermal analysis equipment.
Our state-of-the-art technical resources for tma analysis
With high-sensitivity instruments capable of measuring dimensional variations down to the nanometer, controlling temperature for complex heating and cooling profiles, and applying different mechanical loads, our analytical fleet offers detailed TMA analysis of material properties under a variety of conditions.
During a TMA analysis, a small sample of material is subjected to a temperature-controlled program where it is heated, cooled, or held at a constant temperature, while a mechanical force is applied by an indenter or sensor. Material responses, such as dimensional change (expansion or contraction) or glass transition behavior (abrupt change in dimension or mechanical property), are then recorded. These data provide critical clues to the thermal, mechanical and physical properties of the material under study.
Our thermal analysis services
Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) is a versatile analysis technique for characterizing the mechanical properties of materials. It can be used to characterize materials, identify phase transitions, determine coefficients of thermal expansion and study thermal stability. It can also be used in quality control to ensure that the materials used comply with specifications and quality standards.
Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) can be used to analyze a wide range of materials:
Polymers, such as plastics, elastomers and thermosets, to study their thermal properties, phase transitions and mechanical behavior.
Metals: to study their behavior under the effect of heat, and more specifically their thermal expansion and phase transitions such as melting.
Ceramics, to characterize their properties.
Composite materials, to understand how their components interact thermally and mechanically.
Glasses, to determine their glass transition points and behavior under the effect of heat.
Pharmaceuticals, to study the thermal properties of drugs and excipients.
The main difference between DMA and TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis) is that the former measures mechanical properties, while the latter measures thermal expansion. Both techniques require a sample to be subjected to an external force, enabling various properties such as stiffness and damping capacity to be measured. However, with thermomechanical analysis, the sample is subjected to a temperature rise instead of an applied force. TMA can measure the thermal expansion of a material, which can be used to assess its overall behavior under different environmental conditions.
