Applications of Modulated-Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Related Techniques in Polymer Science

D. J. Hourston
IPTME, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU
e-mail: D.J.Hourston@lboro.ac.uk

The introduction of modulated-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (M-TDSC) has proved to be a very useful technique in various areas of polymer science. For example, the technique is capable of better resolution of thermal transitions than conventional DSC and is able to resolve quite closely placed glass transitions (1). It has been developed as the basis of a method of determining, quantitatively, the interphase regions in heterogeneous polymeric materials such as interpenetrating polymer networks (2), structured latexes (3) and polymer blends (4). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has revolutionised the imaging of surfaces and is capable, under certain circumstances, of atomic level imaging. The use of AFM to follow surface dynamics during latex film formation will be discussed. The probe is used to follow stage III development of a film-forming latex coating based on a poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate) copolymer. This paper is also concerned with the development of an instrument, micro-thermal analysis (m-TA), based on these two techniques. It is capable of yielding both thermal images and of providing localised thermal analysis. Some of its advantages and disadvantages will be discussed and some images will be shown. Further developments of the m-TA technique to yield chemical information via on-line GC-MS and by using the probe as an IR source will also be outlined. References 1. D.J. Hourston, M. Song, A. Hammiche, H.M. Pollock and M. Reading, Polymer, 38 (1997) 1. 2. D.J. Hourston, M. Song, F.-U. Schafer, H.M. Pollock and A. Hammiche, Polymer, 40 (1999) 4769. 3. D.J. Hourston, H.X. Zhang, M. Song, H.M. Pollock and A. Hammiche, Thermochim. Acta, 294 (1997) 23. 4. M. Song, D.J. Hourston, M. Reading, H.M. Pollock and A. Hammiche, J. Thermal Anal. Calor., 56 (1999) 991.