Applications
Thermal analysis is bought to answer specific questions. These are the ones we are asked most often, by sector, and the technique that settles each.
Pharmaceuticals & life sciences
Solid-state characterisation and formulation
- Polymorph screening and identification — distinguishing forms by melting point and enthalpy, and catching metastable conversions on heating
- Drug–excipient compatibility, run as binary mixtures against the pure components
- Hydrate and solvate stoichiometry — separating surface moisture from bound water by the temperature at which it leaves
- Amorphous content and recrystallisation tendency in milled or spray-dried material
- Purity determination by melting-point depression for suitable crystalline substances
Polymers & plastics
Grade qualification and failure analysis
- Glass transition and melting behaviour — identifying a grade, confirming an incoming lot, detecting regrind or contamination
- Percentage crystallinity from enthalpy of fusion, correlated to stiffness and barrier performance
- Filler, glass and carbon-black content by residue at temperature
- Decomposition onset as a processing-window and service-ceiling limit
- Oxidation induction time for stabiliser performance in pipe, cable and geomembrane grades
Rubber & elastomers
Compound deformulation
- Full compositional breakdown — oil and volatiles, polymer, carbon black, inorganic ash — from a single ramp with an atmosphere switch
- Polymer blend ratios in the decomposition region
- Low-temperature glass transition for cold-service performance
- Cure state and residual cure enthalpy
Ceramics, glass & refractories
Process development to 1550 °C
- Binder burn-out schedules — where organics leave, and how much energy that costs
- Carbonate and hydroxide decomposition in raw mineral batches
- Phase transitions and sintering behaviour followed as mass and energy together
- Thermal conductivity of lining and insulation materials at working temperature
Energy, fuels & catalysts
Stability, safety and regeneration
- Proximate analysis of coal and biomass — moisture, volatiles, fixed carbon, ash — in one run
- Thermal stability and exothermic onset of electrode and electrolyte materials
- Coke deposition on spent catalyst and the regeneration temperature required to remove it
- Combustion and pyrolysis behaviour under controlled atmosphere
Coatings, paints & adhesives
Cure and durability
- Cure enthalpy and degree of cure in thermosets; residual reactivity in a part already processed
- Solvent and volatile loss profiles
- Pigment and extender content by residue
- Thermal stability of the cured film
Food, fats & oils
Crystallisation and stability
- Melting and crystallisation profiles of fats — the basis of solid fat content and mouthfeel
- Polymorphic form in cocoa butter and confectionery fats
- Oxidative stability under oxygen
- Moisture and volatile content
Insulation & construction materials
Declared values, verified
- Thermal conductivity of boards, wools, foams and composites, measured at service temperature rather than only at ambient
- Effect of density, porosity and binder content on conductivity during formulation work
- Moisture, binder and organic content by mass loss
Your question not listed?
Most thermal analysis enquiries start as "we are seeing something odd and we don't know why". Describe the material and the symptom — we will tell you whether a thermal technique will actually resolve it.