Thermomechanical Analysis

Stress Engineering Services provides Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) of metallic and non-metallic coupons to acquire properties related to the coefficient of thermal expansion. Characterization of polymers, elastomers, adhesives, composites, ceramics, glasses and metallic substrates is possible with this analytical characterization instrument.

Applications for Thermomechanical Analysis Testing:

• Measurement of Dimensional Change Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
• Multi-layer Film Analysis
• Determination of Material Anisotropy
• Determination of Softening Temperatures
• Determination of Glass Transition Temperature
• Difficult to measure Glass Transition Temperatures

TMA is a valuable test method for failure analysis, application development, material development, computational analysis, material characterization and competitive analysis.

Standard Tests:

ASTM E831:  Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Materials

ASTM D3386:  Linear Expansion of Insulating Materials

ASTM D696: Linear Expansion of Plastics

ISO 11359:  TMA of Thermoplastics and Thermosets

DIN 51 005: Thermomechanical Analysis

Instrument Capabilities:

• Temperature Range:  -150°C To 1000°C
• Sensitivity:  15 Nanometers
• Force Range:  0.001 N To 2.0 N
• Force Resolution:  0.001 N
• Measurement Precision:  ± 0.1%
• Temperature Precision:  ± 1°C
• Typical Heating Rate:  0.1°C To 5°C Per Minute
• Purge Gas Availability:  Nitrogen, Oxygen, Air