About thermal analysis
The methods of thermal analysis enable us to offer the following types of sample/material testing:
- Processes taking place under the heating stress connected with mass change (drying, dehydration, oxidation, …)
- Heat exchange (melting, crystallization, glass transition,…)
- Influence of conditions (heating rate, temperature range, atmosphere, …) on thermally-stressed materials
- Thermal stability (decomposition, oxidation, …)
- Design and verification of heat treatment procedures for a wide range of materials
Principles
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
A sample is subjected to a controlled heating/cooling program (non-isothermal or isothermal) and its weight is measured over time at a range of temperatures.
Differential thermal analysis (DTA)
The sample is heated/cooled at the chosen temperature rate at the same time as a reference, which will remain constant. The temperature difference caused by changes in the sample is recorded and the type of interaction monitored as it takes place. The dependence of the temperature difference on both temperature and time shows the heat aspect of the interaction taking place during the heating or cooling of the sample (exothermic or endothermic effects).
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
DSC monitors heat effects associated with the phase transitions and chemical reactions as a function of temperature. Through appropriate calibration, the results are converted from microvolts to milliwatts. These results show the effects of the interactions and amount of exchanged energy.
Mass spectrometry (MS) combined with thermal analysis (TA)
The quadrupole mass spectrometry analyser enables the detection of chosen masses up to 300 amu. The masses are related to the gases that evolve during the thermal treatment of the sample.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
The infrared spectrometer enables the analysis of the gases that evolve from the thermal analyser during sample analysis.