Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) measures changes in weight of a sample with increasing temperature. Measurements are used primarily to determine the composition of materials and to predict their thermal and oxidative stability. Also the technique is used to estimate the lifetime of a product, decomposition kinetics, moisture/volatile content, melting point, glass transition, heat capacity, crystallinity and purity.
When coupled to mass spectrometer (MS), the gaseous species that are released as a result of thermal decomposition or gas sorption reactions are transferred to MS through heated capillary transfer line. The quadrupole detector in MS provides qualitative chemical determination (mass/charge from 1 to 300) of evolved gases giving information about reactions in real time.
Discovery Series TGA Q5500 coupled with Discovery MS (TA instruments) has the following features:
DSC measures temperatures and heat flows associated with thermal transitions in a material. Properties measured include glass transitions, “cold” crystallization, phase changes, melting, crystallization, product stability, cure/cure kinetics, and oxidative stability.
Pharmaceuticals, Ceramics, Inorganics, Fuels, Polymers, Glass, Adhesives, paints, Resins, Lubricants, Catalysts
Temperature Range: Ambient to 725°C
With Cooling Accessories: -90 to 550°C
Temperature Accuracy: +/- 0.1°C
Temperature Precision: +/- 0.01°C
Calorimetric Reproducibility (indium metal): +/- 0.05%
Calorimetric Precision (indium metal): +/- 0.05%
Dynamic Measurement Range: >+/- 500 mW
Baseline Curvature: (Tzero; -50 to 300 ̊C) 10 μW
Baseline Reproducibility with Tzero: +/- 10 μW
Sensitivity: 0.2 μW
Provides a true simultaneous measurement of heat flow (DSC) and weight change (TGA) on the same sample from ambient to 1,500oC. DSC noise is <4 microwatts and the TGA balance sensitivity is 0.1 microgram. A heat flux DSC design with separate sample and reference pans is used, and is calibrated for heat flow measurements using sapphire. This system features automated furnace movement and a horizontal purge gas system with digital mass flow controllers and programmable gas switching capability. A separate tube permits introduction of reactive gases into the sample chamber.
Pharmaceuticals, Ceramics, Inorganics, Fuels, Polymers, Glass, Adhesives, paints, Resins, Lubricants, Catalysts
Sample Capacity: 200 mg (350 mg including sample holder)
Balance Sensitivity: 0.1 μg
Temperature Range: Ambient to 1500°C
Heating Rate Ambient to 1000°C: 0.1 to 100°C/min
Heating Rate Ambient to 1500°C: 0.1 to 25°C/min
DTA Sensitivity: 0.001°C
Calorimetric Accuracy/Precision: ± 2% (based on metal standards)
Sample Pans: Platinum: 40 μL, 110 μL and Alumina: 40 μL, 90 μL