30 years of research in thermal analysis and calorimetry

The research in thermal analysis and calorimetry, conducted by the author over the period 1964 to 1993, is summarised and concisely reviewed. The major investigations have focussed on thermal analysis studies of coordination compounds, particularly the metal dithiocarbamate complexes. A significant solution calorimetric study of some metal dithiocarbamate complexes has also been undertaken. DSC has been applied to determine the sublimation enthalpies of many metal dithiocarbamate and metal pentane-2,4-dionate complexes and solution calorimetry has been applied to study the thermochemistry of the latter group of complexes. Thermal analysis investigations of several inorganic molten salt systems have been initiated. Thermometric titrimetry has been applied to study metal-macrocyclic ligand systems in aqueous media and particularly those systems of environmental significance. Temperature calibration standards for TMA have been proposed and TMA has been applied to study the mechanical properties of several common inorganic compounds. DTA has been applied to study a wide variety of phenols and has subsequently been applied as an analytical technique to determine the components of solid state phenol mixtures. Thermometric titrimetry has been applied to determine the phenolic content of wines. A comprehensive thermal analysis study of Australian brown coal has been undertaken, involving the DSC determination of coal specific energy, a TG/DTA study of the coal pyrolysis and combustion processes and a TG/DTA and EGA study of the cation catalytic effect on the coal pyrolysis process. Thermal analysis and calorimetric techniques have been extensively publicised and promoted by the publication of specialist reviews, the presentation of symposia review papers and the oral presentation of short courses, particularly in the SE Asian region. This review essentially reveals the diversity of possible application of thermal analysis and calorimetric techniques and the primary significance of thermodynamic data in the fundamental rationalisation of chemical phenomena.     

Applications of new methods and instrumentation in thermal analysis

Thermal analysis techniques are non-specific in that they do not identify particular chemical species. The use of evolved gas analysis (EGA) overcomes this limitation and opens up new dimensions to the extent that the combination of thermal methods and EGA can be regarded as a novel and very powerful group of techniques for analysing complex mixtures and for studying thermally induced reactions.     

The kinetics of solid‐state reactions toward consensus,Part 3. Searching for consistent kinetic results: SCTA vs. conventional thermal analysis

This paper is the third part of a review of some of the controversial kinetic aspects of conventional thermal methods. We open a discussion about the necessity of developing new possibilities and techniques in the field of solid‐state reactions. In the last decade we have seen the commercialization of new instruments and apparatus by a number of manufacturers, which allows for carrying out more meaningful experiments. The Sample Controlled Thermal Analysis describes a family of new techniques such as Controlled Rate Thermal Analysis, Stepwise Isothermal Analysis, etc., which are based on the use of their own rate of reaction for controlling the reaction temperature. It is shown that these new approaches have much more effective control on heat and mass transfer phenomena and can provide enhanced resolution and sensitivity and improved kinetic data. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 223–236, 2002     

Application of thermal analysis in study of binary mixtures with metformin

Thermal analysis is an essential analytical tool in development of new formulations as well as to study the interaction between drugs and excipients. This work aims to investigate the possible interactions between metformin and excipients as microcrystalline cellulose (Microcel MC101®), starch sodium glycolate (Explosol®), sodium croscarmellose (Explosel®), PVP K30, magnesium stearate, starch and lactose, usually employed in pharmaceutical products. TG, DSC and DTA techniques were used for the thermal characterization to track if the thermal properties of the drug substance were modified in the mixture. Disregard of the starch and lactose systems, no changes in thermal behavior of mixtures were found. Thermogravimetric studies (TG) of metformin and its binary mixtures showed different thermal behavior.     

Methodological considerations for using thermal analysis in the characterization of soil organic matter

Thermal analysis is primarily used in the field of materials science, but has a long history in the geosciences. Soil organic matter (SOM) has received a great deal of recent scientific interest because of its role in the global carbon cycle. Conventional methods of characterizing SOM quality are unsatisfactory because they do not adequately capture the complete quality continuum that SOM comprises or the various mechanisms that act to stabilize it in the soil matrix. Thermal analysis techniques have the potential to capture this quality continuum, but are dependent on numerous experimental conditions that limit the comparability of results among different studies. Published methodology on thermal analysis of soils and sediments has largely focused on the characterization of the mineral component, while the organic component has received little attention. We tested several experimental conditions for their effects on the exothermic region of curves generated by thermal analysis of easily dispersed soil clay fractions and non-protected light-density particulate organic matter fractions isolated from the surface horizon of a forest soil. Results were found to be highly repeatable but strongly sensitive to crucible material, heating rate, and sample amount, and relatively insensitive to the use of a reference material. Thermal analysis is an important addition to the set of analytical tools used to characterize SOM quality because it provides direct, quantitative information of the energy potentially available for microbial metabolism. However, users will need to balance the needs of specific scientific objectives with the need for standardized methods and comparability between studies.     

Thermoanalytische methoden in der chemischen verfahrensentwicklung

Thermal analysis methods are used in process development for the investigation of chemical kinetics, for the evaluation of thermal hazards and for the determination of caloric design data. For these applications heat-flow methods are preferably used.This paper gives a survey of methods and instruments, and then presents a new “bench scale heat-flow calorimeter”. The use of this new instruments is illustrated by investigations on the formation of a Grignard compound and on the isomerisation of trimethyl-phosphite.     

Thermal techniques to study complex elastomer/filler systems

The transfer of heat through an elastomeric matrix is important for both the processing of the material and its subsequent lifetime. Thermal conductivity can be used to evaluate the influence of different polymers and fillers on heat transfer. Additionally, the dispersion of the filler has an effect on heat transfer and thermal conductivity measurements can be used to provide semi-quantitative estimations of filler dispersion. The degradation of sulfur-crosslinked elastomer systems has been studied for many years. The degradation of the crosslinks (changes in sulfur rank) and degradation of the polymer backbone by thermal and/or oxidative processes have been studied extensively using many techniques including thermal analysis (references). However, the degradation of the crosslinked-polymer 'network' is less well understood. The relationship of the crosslink network to this degradation process is a key to both the long term and higher temperature performance of the sulfur-crosslinked elastomer. The changes in physical properties observed upon exposure of sulfur-crosslinked elastomers can be monitored using dynamic mechanical analysis. Subsequently, other thermal techniques can be used to monitor the chemistry that is occurring during these degradations. Thermal desorption/mass spectroscopy and dynamic scanning calorimetry are used to complete the picture of the degradation processes taking place. Examples of these techniques will be provided to illustrate the utility of the analytical approach, the chemistry involved in these degradation processes and the effect of changes in the polymer, cure package and other ingredients. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

热电池正极材料的研究进展

热电池是一种热激活贮备式电池,由于其优良的贮存稳定性、放电可靠性等特点,广泛应用于多种军用武器的内部电源。为了满足当前不同军用武器装备的需求,热电池的发展趋于在提高电化学性能的同时实现小型化、微型化。热电池电化学性能的提高主要取决于正极材料的发展,目前对现有正极材料的优化改性和新型正极材料的开发是提高热电池性能的主要方法。本文从合成和改性方法的角度综述了近年来硫化物、氯化物、氟化物热电池正极材料的研究进展,并对其材料特性和放电性能进行了综合评估。最后,基于热电池特殊的应用场景,从热稳定性、放电电压、电导率等方面对热电池正极材料未来的发展方向进行了总结与展望。     

Fast heating in µ-thermal analysis</o:p>

Summary Thermal analysis of the 10 μm surface of materials using TA Instruments' μ-TA thermal probe and pulsed force mode AFM has shown promising results. This addresses the need of additional surface characterization based on principle of Thermal Analysis, which is complementary to other surface characterization techniques, i.e., Surface-IR, TOF-SIMS, etc. The method calls for identification of surface landscape by imaging first, followed by fast heating the spots of interest. The micro thermal probe is viewed to heat a small material with a tiny heater rather than to heat small material with a large heater in conventional thermal analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability in the adhesion temperature of the topical coatings of Tyvek? HDPE sheets, fusion of the heat-processed polyethylene fibers in a bundle, the surface crystallinity of PET pellets, and two examples of phase images of toughened Nylon 66. Comparisons were made where it is possible with standard thermal analysis techniques as well as with the microscopic techniques of AFM, TEM and optical.     

Applications of thermal analysis in quality control of solidification processes

Summary Thermal analysis is widely used to determine solidification characteristics of metals and alloys in various metallurgical processes. Computer-Aided Cooling Curve Analysis (CA-CCA) is the most popular thermal analysis technique because of its ease of use and low cost. This paper discusses the principles of CA-CCA and zero curve calculations. The methods for calculating key solidification characteristics of metals from cooling curves are presented, and their importance in the quality control of manufacturing processes are demonstrated. Examples are presented for cast iron, copper and aluminum alloys.     

Two new techniques for sample preparation in bioanalysis: Microextraction in packed sorbent (MEPS) and use of a bonded monolith as sorbent for sample preparation in polypropylene tips for 96-well plates

Analytical methods providing high throughput are required for the ever increasing number of samples in bioanalysis. Currently, the method of choice in bioanalysis is LC-MS-MS. This method is quite rapid and thereby the focus has been directed to sample preparation as being a bottleneck in total analysis systems. It has become necessary to develop sample preparation techniques to a new improved level. This development has been based on a systematic and scientific approach. The key factors in this development have been miniaturization, integration, and automation of the techniques. This review provides a short overview of recent developments. Special emphasis is on two techniques: microextraction in packed syringe (MEPS) and use of a monolithic acrylamide plug as sorbent in polypropylene tips primarily intended for use with 96-well plate systems.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), 13c solid state nmr and micro-thermomechanical studies of historical parchment

DMA and solid state ¹³C NMR techniques were used to measure historical parchment samples within the framework of the project (MAP) Micro Analysis of Parchment (EC contract No. SMT4-96-2101) in collaboration with the School of Conservation in Copenhagen. DMA was used in both thermal scan and creep modes. Thermal scans provided information on the transitions associated with the collagen polymer. Microthermal analysis was also used to obtain information on the topography and thermal conductivity of sample areas of 100 μm. Localised heating enabled measurements of softening transitions in the sample. This behaviour is influenced by the chemical composition of parchment. 13C NMR provided information on the carbon atoms associated with the polypeptide chains of the collagen in parchment. The behaviour of samples immersed in water and measured in DMA creep mode was used to measure the shrinkage behaviour of the parchment samples. The different but complementary techniques provided a means for characterising the physicochemical state of parchment samples. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Miniaturization in sample treatment for environmental analysis

The increasing demand for faster, more cost-effective and environmentally friendly analytical methods is a major incentive to improve the classical procedures used for sample treatment in environmental analysis. In most classical procedures, the use of rapid and powerful instrumental techniques for the final separation and detection of the analytes contrasts with the time-consuming and usually manual methods used for sample preparation, which slows down the total analytical process. The efforts made in this field in the past ten years have led to the adaptation of existing methods and the development of new techniques to save time and chemicals, and improve overall performance. One route has been to develop at-line or on-line and, frequently, automated systems. In these approaches, miniaturization has been a key factor in designing integrated analytical systems to provide higher sample throughput and/or unattended operation. Selected examples of novel developments in the field of miniaturized sample preparation for environmental analysis are used to evaluate the merits of the various techniques on the basis of published data on real-life analyses of trace-level organic pollutants. Perspectives and trends are briefly discussed.     

RCTA Techniques Used in Studies of Solid State Reactions in Inorganic Compounds

The Reaction Controlled Thermal Analysis techniques, RCTA, are very useful both in thermogravimetric and dilatometric studies. In the present paper this big family of techniques is divided into three main classes: Quasi-Isothermal techniques (QIA); Controlled Reaction Rate Thermal Analysis (CRTA) and Reaction (Event) Controlled Heating Rate Adaption. After a short presentation of these techniques and the general advantages of RCTA, two examples of kinetic studies on thermal decomposition of Ba- and Ce oxalates by using Stepwise Isothermal Analysis, SIA, introduced by the author is presented and discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

热分析动力学数据处理方法的研究进展

综述了最近几年来用热分析法研究固相反应动力学的数据处理方法的新进展,指出了现有方法的成功与局限性,介绍了几种新的动力学处理方法及一种新的热分析技术。     

Application of heat pipe technology in thermal analysis of metals

Summary Thermal analysis has been used in foundry applications to assess the quality of the melt before casting. The high-end thermal analysis techniques such as DSC or DTA are expensive and not suitable for foundry applications. The Computer-Aided Cooling Curve Analysis (CA-CCA) method based on one thermocouple has been widely used as a batch process with poor control over heat extraction and cooling rates during solidification. A heat pipe apparatus has been developed as a thermal analysis tool. The apparatus can assess the melt quality more accurately, as well as, allow for better control of heating and cooling rates. Moreover, the solidification process can be modeled more accurately, and thus the casting parameters affecting the casting quality can be closely simulated and consequently controlled. In this paper the principles of a heat-pipe assisted thermal analysis system are highlighted. The advantages of the new system are described and the possibility of its adoption in melt assessments is discussed.     

微流控芯片系统在单细胞研究中的应用

微流控芯片具有网络式通道结构,扩展了在细胞和亚细胞水平进行生命科学研究的能力,为单细胞研究提供了一个新的平台.在微流控芯片通道中,人们利用气压、液压和电压,或利用介电电泳、光学陷阱、行波介电电泳以及磁场等技术,可以操纵细胞通过或驻留在通道内的任意位置,从而使单细胞计数、筛选以及胞内组分分析等操作大大简化.本文对微流控芯片系统在血液流变学、单细胞操纵与计数以及单细胞胞内组分分析中的应用进行了综述,介绍了用于单细胞研究的多种微芯片系统,讨论了芯片上进行单细胞操纵的各种方法     

Effect of accelerated thermal ageing on the thermal behaviour of the recently made parchments

To reveal the fire injuring of parchment, the changes in the thermal behaviour of some goat parchments, obtained from skins originating from different animals, as a result of thermal aging were determined by thermal analysis methods (DSC; simultaneous TG/DTG, DSC; micro hot table (MHT)). Thermal aging of parchments was revealed to bring about the decrease in shrinkage temperature, absolute value of enthalpy of denaturation in water and some changes in non-isothermal parameters characteristic for dehydration process in static air atmosphere. The results obtained by DSC analysis performed in N₂ and O₂ flows as well as those obtained by simultaneous TG/DTG, DSC analyses have shown that both softening (melting) process parameters and parameters of thermo-oxidative processes have not been changed by thermal ageing. The results obtained by thermal analysis methods were correlated with those obtained by microscopic investigation of parchment samples immersed in water and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The application of these microscopic techniques has revealed the morphology changes in the investigated parchments as a result of thermal degradation.     

Studies of Fire-Retardant Polyester Thermosets Using Thermal Methods

The use of thermal methods in the study of flammability and fire retardant action is discussed and compared with the standard test methods. This paper provides an overview with examples drawn from continuing studies on polyester resins, especially those containing halogenated monomers. Thermal analysis and cone calorimetry results are complemented byanalysis of the gaseous and solid products using a wide range of analytical methods.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.