PerkinElmer TMA 4000 thermomechanical analysis system

With the industrial test requirements and the material changes needed to meet RoHS regulations, understanding the thermal expansion of material is integral to the manufacturing process. PerkinElmer has introduced the TMA 4000, a thermomechanical solution to measure thermal expansion in electronic materials and other products. Additionally, the product can detect potentially harmful materials to ensure all electronic products are safe.

In food and food packaging, thermal size changes as temperature affects laminated films, seals and material volumes. In industries like polymers, automotive and pipelines, expansion and contraction due to heating or cooling can affect whether motors bind, seals leak or gaskets fail. The system is designed for the accurate measurement of the coefficient of thermal expansion to ensure optimal manufacturing processes and to avoid unnecessary expenses as a result of wasted material.

When a sample is softening from heat, it is important to control the force that comes in contact with it; even noise from the force motor can result in deformation of a sample. To combat this, the product uses an Archimedean float suspension to support the weight of the probe and force coil to be able to apply only the required amount of force. This allows measurement on delicate and difficult samples in a range of geometries, including compression, flexure and extension as well as expansion.