Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), also called thermogravimetry, is an analytical method in which the change in mass of a sample is measured as a function of temperature and time. The sample is heated in a small crucible made of fireproof, inert material (e.g. platinum or aluminum oxide) in an oven to temperatures of up to 1600 °C. The sample holder is connected to a microbalance, which records the changes in mass during the heating process. A thermocouple close to the crucible measures the temperature. Modern TGA devices allow the final temperature, heating rate, gas flow, etc. to be set via a connected computer. During the analysis, the sample chamber is flushed with various gases as required. Pure nitrogen is usually used to avoid oxidation. In some cases, however, air, oxygen, or other gases are also used for flushing. When heated, the sample can release volatile components into the environment through decomposition reactions or evaporation, or absorb reactants from the environment, e.g. through oxidation. The weight loss or gain and the temperature at which the weight change occurs can be specific to a sample being examined. From this, conclusions can be drawn about the composition of the substance.
instant request
vertrieb [at] gwp [dot] eu
