2016 Thermal Analyzer Survey Results

Thermal analysis is the broad category of at least 20 techniques that measure some fundamental property of matter as a result of adding heat. For example, dilatometry measures volume changes upon heating, thermomechanical analysis quantifies the change in dimension of a sample as a function of temperature, and thermo-optical analysis detects changes in optical properties upon heating or cooling.

Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Thermal Analyzer

1. If you are going to be analyzing x,y,z properties, ask if the company has any customers conducting the same type of work and if you can talk to them.
2. Ask if you can submit a sample for a demo using specified conditions and, if so, how long this will take and whether a report will be provided.
3. What type of post-sale application and technical support does the company offer, and how much will it cost you?
4. What features distinguish the company’s instrument from their competitors’?
5. What can the company tell you about the quality of the product, i.e., how it was manufactured and tested? This will help you determine the typical lifespan.
6. What can the vendor tell you about the total cost of ownership, including expected consumables, software upgrades, service, and warranty costs?

Types of materials requiring thermal analysis used by survey respondents:

Physical state of materials being measured by thermal analysis :

Nearly 34% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new thermal analyzer. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

	Replacement of an aging system	31%
	New application requiring different instrument	31%
	Addition to existing systems, increase capacity	20%
	Setting up a new lab	9%
	Other	9%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a thermal analyzer: