The application of thermal analysis method to study coal char combustion characteristics were reviewed. Introduced the principle and influencing factor of thermogravimetry and compared the difference between the isothermal thermogravimetry and temperature-programmed thermogravimetry.The results of isothermal thermogravimetry reflected the integral reactivity but the results of temperature-programmed thermogravimetry reflected the change of reactivity during coal combustion which related to the structure and petrographic of char. Kinetics research should eliminate the difussion of the internal and external,otherwise could not get intrinsic kinetics parameter.