Medical materials and compounds can be characterized using various thermal analysis techniques. Thermal Analysis is an excellent method of testing many different chemical and physical properties such as the glass transition temperature, moisture content, composition, long-term stability and a material’s behavior during decomposition. Such analyses give the producers confidence that their products are made to the right standard and are uncontaminated.
The Importance of Quality Testing in the Healthcare Industry
Continuing developments in medical science have revolutionized human healthcare. The goal of human healthcare is not only the treatment of disease and injury but also the diagnosis and prevention of potentially harmful conditions. Medical products can only serve their purpose if adequate quality control measures are implemented.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of thermal analysis techniques in medicine-related fields such as the production of medical devices, research into and development of new medical products and the production of medical supplies. This is particularly relevant to the testing of wound care and other dermal and oral treatment products.
Thermal Analysis of Medical Materials
The most important effects that can be analyzed by DSC are the melting point, melting range and melting behavior.
DSC is also used to determine the heat of fusion, purity, polymorphism, the glass transition, and oxidation stability.
The main applications of TGA are evaporation, desorption and vaporization behavior, thermal stability, decomposition kinetics, and the analysis of composition.
TMA is normally used to study the expansion or shrinkage of materials and the glass transition and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, CTE.
DMA is the most sensitive method for characterizing the glass transition of materials, crystallization behavior and is often used for studying the effects of humidity on materials, such as wound dressings.