TMA Testing Services - Thermal Expansion & CTE Analysis
TMA Testing from -70°C to 1500°C
TAL offers specialized expertise in thermal expansion testing services. Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) and Dilatometry are techniques used to determine the dimensional changes of a sample with respect to temperature, such as the softening temperature, glass transition temperature, and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE). The most common application of TMA is to determine the CTE.
What Is The Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)?
CTE is defined as the degree of expansion divided by the change in temperature:
Where ΔL is the change in length, L0 is the initial length, and ΔT is the change in temperature.
Why is Understanding the CTE Important?
Understanding the CTE of a material is essential for proper usage in different environmental conditions. Failure to account for CTE in certain applications can introduce detrimental stress and ultimately lead to failure. A precise understanding of thermal expansion behaviour provides crucial insight into firing processes, the influence of additives, reaction kinetics, and other important aspects of how a material responds to environmental changes.
How Do You Measure CTE?
TAL offers Thermomechanical analysis testing using Rigaku TMA 8311- the first TMA to offer differential methods. This extremely precise system offers a temperature range of -70°C to 1500°C, and multiple attachments are available to conform to specific testing needs. TAL currently offers single rod & differential compression loading (expansion, shrinkage, glass transition) and differential penetration (softening). 
For more information on the theory of how to measure CTE, click here.
What does a test report look like?
Click here to see an example test report for our compression method. For an example report of our Tensile Loading Attachment, click here.
Applications
Application 1: Copper Thin Films Under Different Atmospheres
Thermal expansion in thin films is key to ensuring mechanical stability and substrate compatibility during temperature changes. Even minor mismatches can cause stress, leading to cracks or delamination in high-precision applications. Understanding the thermal expansion of thin films, especially under different atmospheric conditions, is crucial in understanding the behavior of such films.
Below: A copper thin film tested using Rigaku TMA8311’s Thin Film Attachment from room temperature to 300°C under static air (green) and argon (blue). The sample was heated at 5°C/min, then held at 100°C increments for one hour. Here, the copper film’s length remained unaffected in an inert atmosphere at 300°C, but some expansion was observed under air.
Application 2: Phase transition of Nitinol
Monitoring the phase transition behavior of Nitinol is essential for understanding its unique shape memory and superelastic properties. The transformation between its martensitic and austenitic phases under thermal cycling directly influences its mechanical response and functional performance. This data is crucial for tailoring Nitinol’s behavior in applications such as biomedical devices and actuators, where precise control over temperature-dependent deformation is required.
Below: Nitinol pellet tested using Rigaku TMA8311. The transition of Nitinol from martensitic to austenitic phases was captured during a TMA measurement, as shown by a sudden decrease in the CTE. From this data, it can be seen that the transition temperature of this Nitinol sample is around 61°C.
Application 3: Thermal Stability Evaluation of Battery Separators by DSC + TMA
The lithium-ion battery separator insulates the cathode and anode while allowing lithium ions to pass through its microscopic pores. The separator is required for the battery’s physical integrity within the operating temperature range and to have a shutdown function that blocks the pores at high temperatures to prevent thermal runaway. TMA and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) are effective methods for analyzing and evaluating these properties.
Below: Rigaku’s DSCvesta confirmed endothermic peaks at 132 °C and 165 °C, corresponding to the melting of polyethylene and polypropylene. The shutdown function is activated by the melting of the porous polyethylene.
Rigaku’s TMA8311 revealed shrinkage in the A direction near the polyethylene melting temperature, and elongation in the B direction above the polypropylene melting temperature.
Rigaku’s Vullios analysis software allows the combination of measured data from different instruments into a single plot.
Materials we test
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Foams & insulators
Textiles
Packaging materials
Skin-contact medical materials
Interface materials
Fabrics for automotive interiors
Flooring & architectural materials
Bedding and mattress materials
What Our Customers Say…
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Thermal Analysis Lab was great to work with—flexible, responsive, and reliable. We highly recommend their testing services.
Narsimhan RaghunathanPresident -
TAL offers professional services ranging from analytical testing to customer support. The turnaround time for testing is relatively fast, and the data provided is reliable. They are available to answer any questions we may have.
Yukihiro HaraR&D Manager – Moses Lake Industries -
All data and reports were very helpful and we appreciate your support; you did an amazing job to conduct the tests and confirm the reports within such a short time frame. This really helped us get out of jam and your support meant a lot to our efforts with our customer. We will certainly contact you again on these matters.
Chris EbelingMichael Smith, Managing Director, MAE Trading International Inc -
I just want to thank you for your support to have my sample thermal conductivity analysis swiftly carried out. The paper has been accepted in the journal of materials science: materials in electronics. [comment on Transient Plane Source (TPS) method]
Ekene OkaforResearch Scholar, University of Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions
Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) and Dilatometry are used to measure how a material expands, contracts, or deforms as temperature changes. TMA evaluates dimensional change under a small, applied load, allowing us to characterize properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), softening temperature, and glass transition. Dilatometry focuses on precise linear expansion without applied force and is commonly used for ceramics, metals, and glasses. Both techniques help quantify thermal stability and dimensional performance for a wide range of materials.
TMA measures dimensional changes of a material as a function of temperature, time, or applied force. Common outputs include coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), softening temperature, glass transition (via expansion), and dimensional stability.
At TAL, we offer several TMA testing methods, including standard TMA, differential TMA, thin-film TMA, and penetration TMA. These methods allow us to measure dimensional changes, thermal expansion, softening, and other thermomechanical properties across a wide range of materials.
TMA is suitable for polymers, elastomers, composites, thin films, foams, adhesives, metals, glasses and ceramics. It is especially effective for materials where thermal expansion or deformation under load is critical.
TMA requires relatively small samples, typically a rectangular, cylindrical, or layered specimen measuring approximately 10–20 mm. We can also test smaller samples depending on the material type and testing mode. Exact requirements can be provided once you share the material type and test objectives. You can refer to our sample-size requirements document here.
We typically support measurements from approximately –70°C to 1500°C, depending on the material and probe configuration.
Typical turnaround time is 2 to 3 business weeks, depending on the sample type, testing method, and current workload. Expedited testing is available for an additional surcharge and can reduce the turnaround time to as little as a few days
The cost typically ranges from US $600 to US $1500 per sample, depending on the sample type, testing conditions, and temperature range. Please contact us to receive a personalized quote tailored to your specific samples.
Clients receive a comprehensive test report. A sample test report on thin films can be found here.
You may submit a single sample or multiple samples, or request a quote, by contacting us through our online form, email, or call us at +1-877-827-7623 (toll-Free) or +1 (506) 457-1515 (international). Please provide details about your material, sample count, sample sizes, and desired testing parameters to ensure an accurate quote.
Get Started
Send us a sample, request pricing, or schedule a call to discuss how thermal effusivity insights can enhance your material innovation or comfort claims.