Thermal analysis is an old technique. It has been neglected to some
degree because developments of convenient methods of measurement have
been slow and teaching of the understanding of the basics of thermal
analysis is often wanting. Flexible, linear macromolecules, also not as
accurately simply called polymers, make up the final, third, class of
molecules which only was identified in 1920. Polymers have
neverbeenfullyintegratedintothedisciplinesofscienceandengineering.
Thisbook is designed to teach thermal analysis and the understanding of
all materials, flexible macromolecules, as well as those of the small
molecules and rigid macromolecules. The macroscopic tool of inquiry is
thermal analysis, and the results are linked to microscopic molecular
structure and motion. Measurements of heat and mass are the two roots of
quantitative science. The macroscopic heat is connected to the
microscopic atomic motion, while the macroscopic mass is linked to the
microscopic atomic structure. The macroscopic
unitsofmeasurementofheatandmassarethejouleandthegram, chosentobeeasily
discernable by the human senses. The microscopic units of motion and
structure are 12 10 the picosecond (10 seconds) and the ångstrom (10
meters), chosen to fit the atomic scales. One notes a factor of 10,000
between the two atomic units when expressed in "human" units, second and
gram-with one gram being equal to one cubic centimeter when considering
water. Perhaps this is the reason for the much better understanding and
greater interest in the structure of materials, being closer to human
experience when compared to molecular motion.
