*** Please note, each row and course# listed below is a separate, complete course. ***
Applications of Thermal Analysis Techniques in Polymeric Materials Science & Engineering
| Course# | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 154-1387 | 04/24/2025 - 04/24/2025 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Microsoft Teams |
| 154-1131 | 10/04/2025 - 10/04/2025 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Microsoft Teams AND/OR 240 South Forge Street, Akron, Ohio 44325 Classroom 217 (Located inside the National Polymer Innovation Center) |
| 154-1388 | 12/05/2025 - 12/05/2025 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Microsoft Teams |
Online Registration
CEU's: 0.8
Instructor: Anthony Parker, Ph.D.
Course Overview
Lunch Break: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (EACH DAY for ONLINE ONLY course offerings)
This course emphasizes the practical applications of thermal analysis techniques in real-world problem-solving situations (commonly experienced in industrial and academic work environments). A brief background of the most common TA methods will be given, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Case studies illustrating how these techniques can be collectively used to solve industrial process and product development problems will be presented.
Audience: This course emphasizes the practical applications of TA techniques in real-world problem solving situations (commonly found in industrial and academic work environments). The subject matter is appropriate for technical professionals and managers with academic backgrounds in all fields of polymer science, chemistry, materials science, and engineering disciplines. Prior thermal analysis experience is not required.
Online Course Requirements
We want you to have a great experience participating in our remote (online) courses, and for that, you’ll need the right equipment and internet connection.
Minimum needs are:
- A broadband internet connection that has at least a 2 Mbps upload and download speed.
- A computer (PC or Mac) that can support the latest web browser versions.
- At least 4 GB of RAM and adequate hard drive space.
- A microphone and a speaker.
- International Students: For virtual (online) courses, an additional fee will be assessed to cover the cost of shipping the professional binder (presentation slides), to your address. The cost of international shipping can be significant.
For more information, visit our Online Course Requirements webpage.
Instructor Biography:
Anthony Parker, Ph.D. is a Principal Scientist and founder of A. A. Parker Consulting, LLC. Dr. Parker has 35 years of industrial experience in research, development, and management. He has been involved in multiple start-up businesses ranging from medical devices and musical instrument strings to packaging adhesives, pharmaceutical delivery systems, and cosmetics. His interests and expertise are in the areas of surface chemistry and adhesion, bio-based materials and adhesives, mechanical properties of polymers, structure-property-process relationships in polymers, thermal analytical methods, spectroscopic methods (NMR, FTIR), UV curable coatings, and musical strings/ instruments. Dr. Parker has authored or co-authored more than 70 publications, including 30+ journal articles and technical reviews as well as 40+ patents with several patents pending.
- Introduction
- Course Description
- Course Objectives
- Learn the basics of the techniques – DSC, TGA, TGA-MS, TMA, DMA
- Learn how to use multiple thermal analysis techniques in tandem to solve process and performance problems in product development – examples including composites, coatings, and process studies
- Learn how to identify the nature of transitions in polymeric materials
- Understand the principles of time-temperature-equivalence and applications, i.e. learn how to use thermal analysis data to develop models for time temperature dependent mechanical behavior
- Develop an appreciation for when to use a particular TA technique
- Philosophy
- Analytical chemistry and product development
- The traditional role of the analytical chemist
- The new paradigm
- Thermal Analysis - Principles, Techniques, and Applications
- DSC
- What is DSC?
- Important issues
- Calibration effects
- Heating rate, purge gas (in particular the difference between helium and air/N2)
- Heating versus cooling
- Sample pans - when to use what type
- Sample prep, thermal history (i.e. real vs. experimentally induced phenomena)
- Versions of DSC
- Miscellaneous techniques
- Modulated DSC (MDSC)
- Heat capacity
- Std. method with curve subtraction
- Kinetics – brief review
- ASTM E698 - variable program method
- Practical examples of when it works and when it does not
- Isothermal vs. Dynamic DSC
- Physical aging
- Physical aging of PVC (i.e. polymers)
- Physical aging of Selenium
- Melting, crystallization, etc.
- Polymer process application example – Using DSC to discern the effect of additives on melt transitions
- TGA
- What is TGA?
- Important issues
- Calibrations
- Thermocouple issues
- Purge gases
- Decomposition kinetics
- Examples: Adhesives and Carbon Catalyst Stability
- Application Case Study
- Case Studies - surface adsorption on ZnO and organosilanes on alumina (TGA/MS and other techniques)
- TMA
- What is TMA?
- Instrumentation and Probe Considerations
- Applications/Examples
- Glass temperature
- Melt Transitions
- Coefficient of Thermal Expansion DMA
- What is DMA?
- Description of fixed frequency, creep, and stress relaxation experiments
- Simple mechanical models
- DMA Experimental Issues
- Establishing parameters for analyses – linear viscoelastic region, thermal history
- Error in dynamic experiments
- Instrument induced
- Operator induced
- Applications/Examples
- Types of Relaxations and Transitions
- How do we identify the type of transition?
- Tg vs. localized glassy state motions
- Empirical correlations
- Activation energy concept
- Examples of localized glassy state transitions
- NMR and the Tg Process
- Time temperature superposition experiments
- WLF equation and free volume theory
- Solid State NMR as a Thermal Analysis Technique
- Solution vs. solids state NMR
- NMR relaxation data
- Linewidth and line shape
- NMR and mechanical data correlations
- Case Studies - utilizing multiple techniques to solve the problem.
- Polymer Process Case Studies - Recipe for Successful Structure-Property-Process Studies
- Applications of TA in Polymeric Materials Development
- TA techniques in composites and filled polymers
- TA and coatings performance
- Characterization of Epoxy Adhesives
- Questions and Discussion – Analysis of specific problems from course participants