Applications of micro-thermal analysis

Micro-thermal analysis combines the imaging facility of scanning probe micr oscopy with the ability to characterize, with high spatial resolution, the thermal behavior of materials. A sample may be visualized according to its surface topography and also its relative thermal conductivity. Areas of int erest may then be selected and localized thermal analysis (TMA and modulate d temperature DTA) performed. Applications of this new technique to study s emiconductors, polymer blends and biological specimens are described.