Thermal analysis is a branch of materials science where the properties of materials are studied as they change with temperature. Hence the often synonymous term differential thermal analysis. The Materials Science Tetrahedron, which often also includes Characterization at the center Materials science is the multidisciplinary field relating the performance and function of matter in any and all applications to its micro, nano, and atomic-structure, and vice versa. ... Temperature is the physical property of a system which underlies the common notions of hot and cold; the material with the higher temperature is said to be hotter. ...

Techniques include:

• Differential scanning calorimetry
• Dynamic mechanical analysis
• Thermomechanical analysis
• Thermogravimetric analysis
• Dilatation