Case 1: Sintering Behavior and Dimensional Stability of High-Performance Ceramics (DIL / STA)

Technical ceramics (e.g., alumina, zirconia, and silicon carbide) are widely used in high-temperature structural parts, cutting tools, and electronic substrates. Their sintering profile and thermal expansion behavior directly affect final density, strength, and dimensional accuracy. With a dilatometer (DIL) and simultaneous thermal analysis (STA: TGA combined with DSC), the full evolution from pressed green bodies to high-temperature sintering can be characterized, including shrinkage and phase transitions.

Key measurement & interpretation points:

• Thermal expansion curve from room temperature to high temperature, and the shrinkage window during sintering.
• Impact of dehydration, debinding, and decomposition steps on mass and dimensional change.
• Optimization of sintering temperature, dwell time, and heating rate to balance densification, grain size control, and energy efficiency.

These insights support defining a “sintering process window” for technical ceramics, enabling scale-up and quality assurance.

Case 2: Thermal Stability Assessment for Architectural and Solar Glass Coatings (DSC)

Low-emissivity glass and multi-layer functional coatings are widely adopted in modern buildings and solar applications to achieve both energy savings and weather resistance. If the glass or coating crystallizes or phase-separates under high temperature or long-term sunlight exposure, optical and mechanical performance may degrade. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) can measure the glass transition temperature (T_g) and exothermic crystallization behavior, providing key inputs for coating formulation and heat-treatment design.

Evaluation directions supported:

• Comparison of T_g, crystallization temperature, and melting behavior across different glass substrates and coating formulations.
• Influence of annealing or thermal cycling on coating stability.
• Long-term reliability assessment for solar glass, display panels, and energy-saving architectural glazing.

Case 3: Performance Development for Self-Cleaning Surfaces and BIPV-Integrated Glass (Thermal Analysis + Thermophysical Properties)

With the growth of smart buildings and green energy technologies, self-cleaning glass and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have become important material systems. Their surface layers and encapsulation structures must balance optical transmittance, weather resistance, and mechanical strength. A combined approach of thermal analysis and thermophysical property measurements supports development of functional glass systems with long lifetime and high efficiency.

Measurement and design focus:

• Use laser flash analysis (LFA) to evaluate thermal conductivity and specific heat of encapsulation glass and sealant layers, improving heat dissipation and temperature uniformity.
• Use a dilatometer to confirm thermal expansion matching among glass, ceramics, and metal frames, reducing warpage and fracture driven by thermal stress.
• Use DSC/TGA to track long-term stability of coatings and encapsulation materials under thermal aging and UV exposure.