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Thermal analysis
Thermochimica Acta, 188 (1991) 179-180 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
179
Book Review
Thermal Analysis, by Bernhard Wunderlich, Academic Press, Boston, MA, 1990, xiii + 450 pp., US $48.
Here is a book designed by a Master teacher for students but which should be compulsory reading for all who practice the art of thermal analysis. The title is simple and bold, and many other authors are probably wondering why they did not have enough courage to use it. The outline is simple; a description of the basic aspects of science necessary to practice thermal analysis followed by a description of the techniques: thermometry, differential thermal analysis, calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, dilatometry and thermogravimetry. The figures should prove helpful to all teachers-they really form the basis of slide presentations to be given when developing a lecture, although the present reviewer thinks that too much material is crammed into each figure. Sometimes a slide with just one or two words on it rivets the mind of the audience better than too much detail. Two aspects of the book are pleasing-the introduction of a section dealing with thermometry, and a discussion dealing with irreversible thermodynamics which necessitates the introduction of a time element into thermodynamics. The author points out that most real systems can only really be treated by irreversible thermodynamics as practically all systems deviate from equilibrium. Each chapter ends with a set of problems and a list of references which should prove useful to those wishing to go beyond the production of data from their instruments. The book is especially useful for the polymer scientist, and less useful for those engaged in the study of inorganic and geological systems. This, I suspect, is because the author’s background is in the field of organic macromolecules. The general treatment outlined in the book is however equally applicable to organic and inorganic systems, although the examples in inorganic chemistry are not so numerous. The author defends his chapter on DTA by pointing out that DTA is the overall term covering all differential thermal techniques while DSC must be reserved for the DTA that yields calorimetric information. A separate chapter is devoted to applications that rely largely on the determination of heat. There is also a separate chapter on Thermomechanical Analysis and Dilatometry. Here the background of the author is very apparent for the subject deals almost (but not quite!) exclusively with polymeric organic materials when the instrument manufacturers who deal with these techniques make quite a satisfactory living selling equipment dealing specifically
180
with ceramics, and inorganic and geological materials. Overall a very satisfactory book, just right for a graduate teaching program. DAVID DOLLIMORE Department of Chemistry University of Toledo 2801 W. Bancroft Street Toledo OH 43606 USA
179
Book Review
Thermal Analysis, by Bernhard Wunderlich, Academic Press, Boston, MA, 1990, xiii + 450 pp., US $48.
Here is a book designed by a Master teacher for students but which should be compulsory reading for all who practice the art of thermal analysis. The title is simple and bold, and many other authors are probably wondering why they did not have enough courage to use it. The outline is simple; a description of the basic aspects of science necessary to practice thermal analysis followed by a description of the techniques: thermometry, differential thermal analysis, calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, dilatometry and thermogravimetry. The figures should prove helpful to all teachers-they really form the basis of slide presentations to be given when developing a lecture, although the present reviewer thinks that too much material is crammed into each figure. Sometimes a slide with just one or two words on it rivets the mind of the audience better than too much detail. Two aspects of the book are pleasing-the introduction of a section dealing with thermometry, and a discussion dealing with irreversible thermodynamics which necessitates the introduction of a time element into thermodynamics. The author points out that most real systems can only really be treated by irreversible thermodynamics as practically all systems deviate from equilibrium. Each chapter ends with a set of problems and a list of references which should prove useful to those wishing to go beyond the production of data from their instruments. The book is especially useful for the polymer scientist, and less useful for those engaged in the study of inorganic and geological systems. This, I suspect, is because the author’s background is in the field of organic macromolecules. The general treatment outlined in the book is however equally applicable to organic and inorganic systems, although the examples in inorganic chemistry are not so numerous. The author defends his chapter on DTA by pointing out that DTA is the overall term covering all differential thermal techniques while DSC must be reserved for the DTA that yields calorimetric information. A separate chapter is devoted to applications that rely largely on the determination of heat. There is also a separate chapter on Thermomechanical Analysis and Dilatometry. Here the background of the author is very apparent for the subject deals almost (but not quite!) exclusively with polymeric organic materials when the instrument manufacturers who deal with these techniques make quite a satisfactory living selling equipment dealing specifically
180
with ceramics, and inorganic and geological materials. Overall a very satisfactory book, just right for a graduate teaching program. DAVID DOLLIMORE Department of Chemistry University of Toledo 2801 W. Bancroft Street Toledo OH 43606 USA