Thermal and Mechanical Analysis of N ‐Vinyl Pyrrolidone and N ‐Vinyl Caprolactam‐Based Polymers

Abstract

Abstract The techniques and methods used to measure thermal and mechanical properties are interrelated and routinely used to investigate the material properties of polymers. This chapter provides an overview of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and delve into their application to study polymers based on vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl caprolactam. DSC is an extremely useful tool for investigating the behavior of blends of PVP, with other polymers providing insight into their interactions and miscibility. TGA is a thermal technique that is used to monitor changes in polymer structure as a function of temperature. The chapter provides an introduction to TGA followed by its application and use to characterize VP‐based polymers. DMA is essential to study the mechanical properties of polymers. DMA is also known as dynamic thermomechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, forced oscillatory measurements, or dynamic rheology.