Comparison of Glass Transition Temperature Values of Composite Polymer Obtained by TMA and DSC

In recent years a number of studies were conducted in order to obtain polymer composites with superior performance when compared to the metallic alloys. However, these new materials must meet a series of rigid project requirements. One way to evaluate the polymer composites is through their transition temperatures, especially the glass transition temperature (Tg). It is possible to evaluate the Tg of a polymeric material through the study of changes in dimensions of a sample as a function of temperature. These measurements can be made on an equipment of thermomechanical analysis (TMA), however, despite great sensitivity, this technique is basically unknown by most users when compared to others such as DSC or DMA. Even with different technical principles of operation, the results show similarity. Thus, this study aims to compare the results of Tg polymer composites obtained via TMA with those obtained from DSC curves in epoxy resin/carbon fiber laminates.