Thermal analysis for fiber identification and characterization

Abstract

Over the last few decades the textile industry, traditionally a domain driven by rapid and continuous evolution, has witnessed the development of many new fibers, the introduction of innovative physical treatments and the application of novel chemical additives and finishing processes. These new materials and processes have created new market opportunities for multifunctional fibers with improved characteristics. Thermal analysis techniques have also evolved to meet new challenges in the characterization of phase behavior, chemical stability and mechanical performance of a wide variety of materials. These techniques will certainly continue to provide valuable information, not only through their capacity to identify structural components in fibers and explain structure-performance relationships, but also by contributing to the evolution pathway of product and process optimization.