1. Differential thermal analysis and differential enthalpy analysis

1.1 General

The principle of differential calorimetry [50] is based on the measurement of variations in the thermal energy supplied to the sample to be analyzed, compared with an inert body called the control, necessary to impose a controlled temperature program. This requires two identical temperature-controlled chambers, containing the sample to be analyzed and the control.

In differential thermal analysis (DTA), the measured variable is the temperature gradient between sample and control. In this case, the heat fluxes transmitted to sample and control are identical.

The most common technique for characterizing polymers is differential enthalpy analysis (DEA), which...