This infrastructure provides a set of techniques mainly directed, though not exclusively, to thermal analysis and quality control, materials characterization, as well as kinetic studies. The infrastructure aims to offer competitive services, including research oriented and advanced training on thermal and thermomechanical analyses. Services to internal and external users are provided, following the procedures in place for the respective contexts, thus contributing for scientific dissemination and transfer of knowledge to diverse audiences.
About Thermal Analysis Facility @ Chemistry Department
DSC analyses of solid or liquid samples, in the temperature -90 to 300 °C.
DTMA analyses of solid samples with well-defined dimensions (typically 3.0 x 0.5 x 0.1 cm). For the study of thermal transitions, the use of the material pocket accessory allows the study of powders or of small fragments of films (typically 5-10 mg)
TGA and TG-DSC analyses of solid or of viscous liquid samples, from ambient temperature to 1500 °C, under a variety of atmospheres.
Internal Services
Services are provided for all the above techniques depending on previous authorization by the scientific coordinator. Booking is mandatory and no more than 5 samples are accepted per researcher unless duly discussed with the scientific coordinator.
The Scientific coordinator together with the technical staff advise and clarify issues for all techniques, though researchers should provide preliminary information regarding the conditions under which analyses should be carried out.
Researchers using the thermal analyses laboratory on a regular basis are requested to pay for consumables.
External Services
Services are provided on a cost-payment basis for all the above techniques, but booking is mandatory. The number of samples must be discussed with the Scientific coordinator to ensure internal services are not disrupted.
Scientific coordinator together with the technical staff provide advice and clarify issues for all techniques, including the selection of the best technique to use as well as the conditions under which analyses should be carried out.
Academia 36€/ h + consumables
Non-academia 72€/ h + consumables
Submit the form below with your enquiry.
Ana Barros
Scientific Coordinator
Associated Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Her research interests are focused on polymer synthesis towards the preparation and characterization of functional (nano)composites, and more recently on their chemical recycling. In this context she has developed work involving a wide range of polymeric materials and nano or microparticles as well as the subsequent characterization with emphasis on the thermomechanical characterization techniques.
Ana Isabel Caço
Laboratory Technician
Instruments
Diamond DSC Perkin-Elmer
Differential scanning calorimeter using the power compensation principle, measures transition temperatures, heat capacities, transition and reaction enthalpies and their detailed kinetics as a function of time and temperature, in solid or liquid samples. The range of accessible temperatures is from – 90 to 300 °C.
NETZSCH – DSC 204 F1 Phoenix
Differential scanning calorimeter measures transition temperatures, heat capacities, transition and reaction enthalpies and their detailed kinetics as a function of time and temperature, in solid or liquid samples. The range of accessible temperatures is from – 180 to 600 °C depending on the type of sample.
SETSYS 16 Evolution Setaram
Thermogravimetric analyzer with the possibility of simultaneous DSC-TG tests, measures mass variations in various types of transformations/reactions, as a function of temperature and time. Various types of atmospheres can be used in contact with the sample. The range of accessible temperatures is from ambient to 1500 ºC.
TG-DTA / DSC THEMYS ONE Setaram
Thermogravimetric analyzer with the possibility of simultaneous DSC-TG tests, measures mass variations in various types of transformations/reactions, as a function of temperature and time. Various types of atmospheres can be used in contact with the sample. The range of accessible temperatures is from ambient to 1150 ºC.
Tritec 2000 Triton
Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer measures elastic and dissipation modules as a function of temperature and frequency, as well as glass transition and other secondary transition temperatures. The test modes can be single cantilever, tension and compression. Analyses can be performed as a function of relative humidity with the coupling of a humidity generator. The range of accessible temperatures is from – 180 to 300 °C.
About Thermal Analysis Facility @ Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department
DSC/DTA/TG analyses of solid samples, from ambient temperature to 1450 °C, under different atmospheres, Air, Ar, CO2, O2 and N2.
STA (DTA/TG) analyses of solid samples for the study of thermal transitions, from ambient temperature to 1550 °C, under a different atmosphere, Air, Ar, O2, N2 and vacuum. The use of the material pocket accessory allows the study of powders or of small fragments of films (typically 5-10 mg).
AD, Dilatometer analysis is used to test a wide range of materials such as traditional and advanced ceramics, glasses, metals and polymers, from ambient temperature to 1550 ºC, under different atmospheres, Air, Ar, O2, N2 and vacuum. Dilatometry measure the changes of dimensional changes in material as a function of temperature and offers a measurement like linear thermal expansion, coefficient of thermal expansion, sintering temperature, shrinkage steps, phase transitions, density change, softening point and decomposition temperature, anisotropic behavior and glass transition temperature. Study of samples with 20mmx5mm to 50mmx5mm.
TCiTM Thermal Conductivity Analyser is a thermal property characterization instrument based on the modified transient plane source technique. The sensor is engineered for testing liquids, powders and solids materials in a wide range foams to metals (special calibration can be required).
Services are provided for all the above techniques depending on previous authorization by the scientific coordinator. Booking is mandatory and no more than 5 samples are accepted per researcher unless duly discussed with the scientific coordinator.
Scientific coordinator together with the technical staff advise and clarify issues for all techniques, though researchers should provide preliminary information regarding the conditions under which analyses should be carried out.
Researchers using the thermal analyses laboratory on a regular basis are requested to pay for consumables.
Submit the form below with your enquiry.
Services are provided on a cost-payment basis for all the above techniques, but booking is mandatory. The number of samples must be discussed with the Scientific coordinator to ensure internal services are not disrupted.
Scientific coordinator together with the technical staff provide advice and clarify issues for all techniques, including the selection of the best technique to use as well
Submit the form below with your enquiry.
Vítor Sencadas
Scientific Coordinator
Maria Carlos Figueiredo
Laboratory Technician
Célia Miranda
Laboratory Technician
Instruments
Hitachi, STA300
Simultaneous thermal and thermogravimetry analysis from room temperature until 1450ºC, under different atmospheres, Air, Ar, CO2, O2 and CO2.
The samples are dry and thin powders for a crucible of 3 mm diameter.
Room 9.1.23.
C-Therm, TCi-3-A
Sensor -50º - 200ºC (additional cooling/heating system, not included to the set, is required).
Solids, liquids, powders and pastes (in some cases, additional calibration files are needed).
Minimal sample size – 17 mm in diameter, 2-3 mm in thickness (depends on thermal conductivity of the sample).
Room 9.2.8.
Linseis L75 HS 1600
Solid samples, vacum, Air, Argon, N2 and O2.
About Thermal Analysis Facility @ Physics Department
Thermal properties studies are performed using the Gustafsson Probe method (or Hot Disk) with the Thermal Constant Analyzer TPS 2500S. This transient method uses an electrically conducting pattern (Nickel) element acting both as a temperature sensor and heat source, insulated with two thin layers of Kapton (70 µm). Measurement range of thermal conductivity is typically from 0.005 up to 1500 W/K.m. For isotropic samples, the Hot Disk method allows the determination of the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat. For anisotropic samples, axial/radial components can also be measured using adapted methods/software. The Hot Disk method is an international standard for measuring thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity with the designation ISO 22007-2.
For temperature dependence, the sample temperature is controlled using a Thermo Scientific AC 200 Immersion Circulator in the range -20 up to 160ºC. For higher temperatures up to 600ºC an oven and special mica-insulated probes are used. The specific heat capacity measurement range is from 0.005 up to 5 MJ/m3K, but measurements are restricted to room temperature.
Thermal imaging with infra-red is a non-invasive technique, to map temperature distributions and capable of visualizing dynamic heat transfer processes in real-time. The setup consists of a FLIR SC5650 camera with a Stirling cycle cooled Indium Antimonide detector, allowing 640x512 pixel mapping, 25mK sensitivity and calibrated up to 3000ºC. Dynamic measurements can be performed with variable windowed frame-rate, from 100Hz at full resolution up to 3400Hz at 48x4 pixel resolution. The microscopy stand is a 5x macro lens with 3 micrometer spatial resolution per pixel, with adapted thermal stage sample holder, and permanent magnet for applications under magnetic field.
Besides conventional heating for thermal excitation we have available: -a Fiber Coupled Laser System 980 nm IR laser with variable power, up to 2 W and a Table Top Thermoelectric Bi-directional Controller (heating and cooling modes of Peltier elements).
Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM) technique allows mapping thermal conductivity and thermal processes at the nanoscale. Using heater/thermometer tips combined with AFM probe deflection can also be used to perform local thermal analysis and phase transition detection, at ~50 nm resolution
At the laboratory we have a PARK XE-7 Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) with SThM. The system and the tips used allow local heating and sensing up to 160ºC with 0,1ºC sensitivity. Additionally, the microscope is equipped with a controlled thermal platform (Peltier)
Submit the form below with your enquiry.
Vítor Amaral
Scientific Coordinator