Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (3^rd Ed.) A Practical Introduction

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is a powerful technique for understanding the viscoelastic properties of materials. It has become a powerful tool for chemists, polymer and material scientists, and engineers. Despite this, it often remains underutilized in the modern laboratory. Because of its high sensitivity to the presence of the glass transition, many users limit it to detecting glass transitions that can?t be seen by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

This book presents a practical and straightforward approach to understanding how DMA works and what it measures. Starting with the concepts of stress and strain, the text takes the reader through stress?strain, creep, and thermomechanical analysis. DMA is discussed as both the instrument and fixtures as well as the techniques for measuring both thermoplastic and thermosetting behavior. This edition offers expanded chapters on these areas as well as frequency scanning and other application areas. To help the reader grasp the material, study questions have also been added. Endnotes have been expanded and updated.

Features

• Reflects the latest DMA research and technical advances
• Includes case studies to demonstrate the use of DMA over a range of industrial problems
• Includes numerous references to help those with limited materials engineering background
• Demonstrates the power of DMA as a laboratory tool for analysis and testing

1. An Introduction to Dynamic Mechanical Analysis 2. Basic Rheological Concepts: Stress, Strain, and Flow 3. Rheology Basic: Creep-Recovery and Stress Relaxation 4. Thermomechanical Analysis 5. Dynamic Testing and Instrumentation 6. Time and Temperature Scans Part I: Transitions in Polymers 7. Time and Temperature Scans Part II: Thermosets 8. Frequency Scans 9. Applications to Specific Areas 10. DMA Applications to Real Problems: Guidelines

Kevin P. Menard is a chemist with research interests in materials science and polymer properties. He has published or presented more than 200 papers and holds 14 patents. He has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, and a certified professional chemist. He is active in the American Chemical Society and Society of Plastic Engineers, where he is on the board of directors for the Polymer Analysis Division.

Noah R. Menard co-founded Veritas Testing and Consulting and in 2014 took over the day to day management of the laboratory. His particular specialty there has become hyphenated thermal methods, including UV-DMA, UV-DSC, TGA-FTIR, and TGA-GCMS.