How do storage modulus E′, loss modulus E″ and tan delta change with…
Temperature sweep
Material Properties · Tribology & Deformation
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
Measure viscoelastic stiffness, damping and transitions as functions of temperature, frequency, time or oscillation amplitude.
- Price
- from£105 per independent standard run per sample, excl. VAT
- Turnaround
- 5 working days Preparation and scope dependent
- Available platforms
- TA Instruments Discovery DMA 850NETZSCH DMA 303 EplexorHitachi NEXTA DMA200PerkinElmer DMA 8000
- Typical outputs
- Storage modulus E′Loss modulus E″Tan delta and transition temperaturesTemperature, frequency or time sweep data
Why this service
What DMA can help you understand
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) applies a controlled oscillatory deformation and resolves the in-phase and out-of-phase response. It is used to measure storage modulus E′, loss modulus E″ and tan…
Where are the glass transition and secondary relaxation regions?
Frequency or amplitude sweep
How do formulation, cure, moisture, ageing or orientation change…
Creep or stress relaxation
Choose the scope
Start from the question, not the tool
The method, preparation route and reporting depth depend on what you need to decide.
Temperature sweep
How do storage modulus E′, loss modulus E″ and tan delta change with temperature or frequency?
- Best used when
- How do storage modulus E′, loss modulus E″ and tan delta change with temperature or frequency?
- Typical result
- Storage modulus E′
- Preparation note
- Provide the material grade, formulation, cure or ageing history and intended comparison.
Frequency or amplitude sweep
Where are the glass transition and secondary relaxation regions?
- Best used when
- Where are the glass transition and secondary relaxation regions?
- Typical result
- Loss modulus E″
- Preparation note
- Confirm specimen dimensions and preferred mode such as dual cantilever, three-point bending, tension, shear or compression.
Creep or stress relaxation
How do formulation, cure, moisture, ageing or orientation change viscoelastic behaviour?
- Best used when
- How do formulation, cure, moisture, ageing or orientation change viscoelastic behaviour?
- Typical result
- Tan delta and transition temperatures
- Preparation note
- State the temperature range, frequency, amplitude or strain limit and whether a preliminary linear-viscoelastic-region check is required.
Common outputs
A result package matched to the decision you need to make
Fields, conditions, processing and file formats are confirmed before work begins.
Storage modulus E′ supplied with the agreed units, labels, sample reference and measurement conditions.
Loss modulus E″ supplied with the agreed units, labels, sample reference and measurement conditions.
Tan delta and transition temperatures supplied with the agreed units, labels, sample reference and measurement conditions.
Temperature, frequency or time sweep data supplied with the agreed units, labels, sample reference and measurement conditions.
Example results
What DMA results can look like
The plot shows dynamic mechanical analysis of EPDM/CB compounds. Storage modulus G ′ ( ω ) at 140 °C.
Yancai Sun et al. · source · CC BY
The plot shows parallel thermal scan thermograms of the alkaline-activated Metakaolin paste heated at 1 °C/min.
Raffaella Aversa et al. · source · CC BYSample requirements
What to provide before work begins
Provide representative, clearly labelled samples and identify the decision, feature or comparison that matters.
| Suitable sample | Submission requirement | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular bar or strip | Provide the material grade, formulation, cure or ageing history and intended comparison. Provide at least three replicate specimens where repeatability or material comparison is important. | Specimen geometry, clamping mode and stiffness range must be compatible with the selected fixture. |
| Film or fibre | Confirm specimen dimensions and preferred mode such as dual cantilever, three-point bending, tension, shear or compression. | Transition temperatures depend on frequency, heating rate, conditioning and the chosen interpretation rule. |
| Elastomer or soft polymer specimen | State the temperature range, frequency, amplitude or strain limit and whether a preliminary linear-viscoelastic-region check is required. | Specimen geometry, clamping mode and stiffness range must be compatible with the selected fixture. |
Objective: state the decision, comparison or acceptance criterion the work must support.
Handling and access: declare hazards, instability, confidentiality, file constraints or special logistics before dispatch or transfer.
Questions and answers
Common planning decisions
Short answers to issues that can change preparation, scope, timing or interpretation.
Which DMA mode should I choose?
The mode depends on specimen form, stiffness and the decision required. Bars commonly use bending or cantilever fixtures, films use tension, and elastomers may use shear or compression.
Can DMA measure glass transition?
Yes. DMA can identify glass-transition and secondary relaxation regions from E′, E″ and tan delta, but the reported value depends on frequency, heating rate and the chosen interpretation convention.
What specimen information is required?
Provide material and conditioning history, dimensions, expected stiffness, temperature range, comparison groups and any applicable method or reporting convention.
What is the typical turnaround?
Typical turnaround is 4–10 working days after sample acceptance and method confirmation.
Configure the service
Send the information needed to scope DMA correctly
- Sample form, material, dimensions and quantity
- Feature or decision the result must address
- Required comparison, acceptance criterion or reference
- Preferred output and reporting depth