In this slide the most useful analytical techniques for material characterisation are shown. They provide micro and macroscopic information in a complementary way, and they allow us to know an understand material behaviour and properties.
The ability to visually analyse the microstructure of materials is a powerful tool that enabled materials scientists and manufacturers to understand the behavior of the materials. All materials have a characteristic microstructure. The processes used to alter their properties usually affect the microstructure in some visible way. Therefore, the ability to analyae these changes is helpful in controlling manufacturing processes and failure analysis.
The microscopic technique provides information about material morphology. Whilst, chemical characterisation and thermal properties knowledge involve the effect of crystallinity grade and thermal transitions on some polymers practical applications. By means of these techniques studies on thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation are carried out. Then, the problems related with molecular weight are analyzed. Also, curing behaviour of thermoset resins is a powerful tool for obtain important thermal parameters.
It should also be noted that physical characterisation is based on mechanical properties determination as tension, creep, flexural, impact, fatigue, mechanodynamical measurements, MFI, and VICAT/HDT, and also quantitative and qualitative analyses and additive influence on processing conditions and final properties. These properties are used to complete the microscopic information obtained (crystalline morphology and phase structure) and also provide knowledge about the mechanical behaviour of the material.
When the information coming from all these techniques is combined, they constitute an important and powerful tool for gathering complete material knowledge. In this section we will focus on morphological-microstructural, spectroscopic and thermal analyses likewise some of the most important tools employed in material characterisation.