Thermal Analysis (DTA, TGA, DSC)
Description
The Thermal Analysis Laboratory contains several instruments designed to characterize materials based on their behavior under various heat conditions.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a thermal analysis technique which is used to measure the temperatures and heat flows associated with transitions in materials as a function of time and temperature. Such measurements provide qualitative and quantitative information about physical and chemical changes that involve endothermic and exothermic processes, or changes in heat capacity. The systems available at MCL cover the temperature range from -60° to 1600°C with variable atmospheres.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) measures changes in weight of a sample with increasing temperature. Moisture content and presence of volatile species can be determined with this technique. Computer controlled graphics can calculate weight percent losses. Maximum temperatures are 1250°C for the TGA-7 and 1000°C for the TGA 2050; variable atmospheres. Typical heating rate is 10° per minute. Optimum sample size is 50100mg. No sample preparation is necessary.
Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) measures the difference in temperature between a sample and a thermally inert reference as the temperature is raised. The plot of this differential provides information on exothermic and endothermic reactions taking place in the sample. Temperatures for phase transitions, melting points, crystallization can all be determined using the computer controlled graphics package. Maximum temperature for this instrument is 1350°C; variable atmospheres. Typical heating rates are 1020° per minute. Optimum sample size is 50100mg. Ideally, the sample should be ground to 100 mesh.
Rates
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Technique Advantages
- Research and Development and Quality Control
- New Material Development
- Materials Selection
- Performance Prediction
- Competitive Evaluation
- Fingerprinting
Typical Applications
- Composition of multicomponent systems
- Thermal and Oxidative stability
- Estimated lifetime of a product
- Decomposition kinetics
- The effect of reactive/corrosive atmospheres on materials
- Moisture/Volatile content
- Melting point
- Glass Transition
- Crystallinity
- Heat capacity
- Purity
Sample Requirements
- All sample types are acceptable. For solids, it is preferred to be ground to <100 mesh.
Other Information
Technical documentation available at www.personal.psu.edu/pjm112.