CHEMICAL ANALYSES

Our lab is able to perform analyses with the Mettler-Toledo DSC822 differential scanning calorimeter.

technique, applied to polymers such as epoxy, polyester and vinylester is designed to determine:

• The temperature of glass transition, to constrain the cause of bubble formation in the laminate material
• The reaction enthalpy, which is required to estimate the extent of resin polymerization
• Fusion temperature
• Percentage of crystallization

What is a differential scanning calorimeter?

Scanning differential calorimetry is a technique designed to compare the heath flux through a sample and some reference material as a function of temperature during a controlled heating experiment.

DSC measurements provide information on:

• Thermal effects related to enthalpy variations during heating, caused by several processes including fusion, crystallization and chemical reactions
• Thermal effects related to changes in thermal capacity, allowing to determine the glass transition temperature

Definitions

Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)

Threshold temperature below which amorphous polymers behave rigidly. At temperatures above Tg, amorphous polymers are characterized by plastic behavior, due to the higher degree of freedom of the system

Reaction Enthalpy (ΔH)

Energy released during a chemical reaction, such as termoset resin catalysis

Fusion Temperature (Tm)

Temperature at which crystals melt.