Thermal analysis of natural fibers

Thermal analysis is a critical, analytical, and characterization tool in the field of materials sciences. Specific thermal properties of synthetic polymers and biomaterials with different phases and morphology can be determined through this technique. Traditional thermal analysis techniques include differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanic analysis. Among these techniques, DSC is the core thermal analysis technique. It was further developed into modulated-temperature DSC, quasi-isothermal DSC as well as fast DSC. The various DSC techniques and methods characterize the temperatures and heats and/or specific heat capacity changes at the thermodynamic and kinetic transitions of different materials such as low-molecular-mass substances, amorphous and semicrystalline synthetic polymers, and also biopolymers. Moreover, DSC can also help monitor the structural changes of polymers during the heating, cooling, and isothermal measurements. In addition, the calculation of the reversing and nonreversing heat flow can help separate the various transitions.