An Overview of Thermal Methods Within the Analytical Framework of Cultural Heritage Studies

The article offers an overview of thermal methods in the field of heritage conservation and research. Thermal analysis encompasses a family of analytical methods in which the property of a sample is monitored to gain a deeper understanding of material properties under various thermal conditions. Thermal methods can provide profound insights into the thermal behavior of heritage materials, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA), thermodilatometric analysis (TDA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), dielectric thermal analysis (DETA), thermal conductivity (TC), infrared thermography (IRT), and thermoluminescence (TL). These methods serve as a valuable means of recording thermal events across a broad range of temperatures, such as glass transition temperature, melting temperature, crystallization temperature, specific heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, thermal curing, thermal shrinkage, TC, and thermal imaging. Combining multiple methods in a single measurement enhances the collection of more information simultaneously. Thermo-kinetic parameters play a crucial role in interpreting the results obtained from thermal analysis to predict the behavior of materials at different temperatures and understand the underlying mechanisms driving thermal transformations. The key advantage of thermal analysis practice is to answer questions regarding materials performance, materials selection, conservation treatments, and preventive measures.