Dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMA)

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) measures viscoelastic properties (storage modulus, loss modulus and tan delta peak) of polymeric materials as a function of temperature, frequency and relative humidity. The DMA has a motor and driveshaft used to apply torsional, tensile or bending stress on materials, and a linear variable differential transformer will be used to measure linear displacement.

Capabilities/Accessories

Deformation Modes
Maximum Force	18 N
Minimum Force	0.0001 N
Force Resolution	0.00001 N
Frequency Range	0.001 to 200 Hz
Dynamic Deformation Range	±0.005 to 10,000 μm
Strain Resolution	0.1 nm
Modulus Range	10³ to 3×10¹² Pa
Modulus Precision	± 1%
Tan δ Sensitivity	0.0001
Tan δ Resolution	0.00001
Temperature Range	Standard Furnace: -160°C to 600°C RH Accessory: 5°C to 120°C
Time-Temperature Superposition	Yes

Typical properties and behaviors measured by the DMA 850 ((TA instrument)) include:

• Modulus of Elasticity (E) • Modulus of Rigidity (G) • Complex Moduli (E*,G*)

• Storage and Loss Moduli (E’, E”, G’, G”) • Damping Properties (tan δ) • Glass transition

• Secondary Transitions • Melting and crystallization • Softening

• Relaxation behavior • Frequency Effects • Creep and Recovery

• Stress Relaxation • Time-Temperature Superposition (TTS) • Viscous flow

• Dynamic Fatigue • Impact Strength • Toughness

• Resiliency • Stress-strain Curves • Shrink Force

• Composites • Composition of blends • Phase Separation (Polymer Blends, Copolymers…)

• Material defects • Effects due to fillers • Orientation Effects

• Effects of Additives • Aging (physical or chemical) • Gelation

• Crosslinking Reactions • Crosslink Density • Mullins Effect

Testing mode

Stress-Strain Curves, Creep and Stress Relaxation, Isostress and Isostrain

Examples/Application areas

1. Jonoobi, M., Harun, J., Mathew, A. P. & Oksman, K. Mechanical properties of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) prepared by twin screw extrusion. Compos. Sci. Technol. 70, 1742–1747 (2010).

2. Moreno, A.; Morsali, M.; Sipponen, M. H. Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Lignin Vitrimers with Tunable Mechanical Properties: Circular Polymers and Recoverable Adhesives. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, acsami.1c17412. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c17412.