The use of chains is one of the most versatile and reliable ways to lift, fasten, tie and transport materials. The objective of this work was to analyze the behavior of the links of a steel chain using thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA), comparing the results obtained experimentally with analytical and numerical results available in the literature. The first part involves the TSA experimental methodology for the process of quantifying the gain of the thermoelastic signal relationship from the materials, called calibration. One type is done through the theoretical relationship between the mechanical properties of the specimen material and the characteristics of the measurement system, which was used in this work. Calibrations were performed on five carbon steel specimens with differentiated geometries. In this way, it was possible to construct a characteristic calibration curve for the conversion of the measured thermograms in camera units (Cam Unit) to the stress value (MPa). The second part involves the analysis of the TSA effect in a Proof Coil (G30) chain link, based on models of analytical stresses investigated in the literature and application of the finite element (EF) analysis model in links. It was observed through the results that the range of the tensions by the TSA regarding the simulation EF, similar regions of tensile concentration in the visual aspect of the behavior of the voltage distributions in the thermograms and the simulation, as well as the physical quantities.