Thermal Analysis (TGA/DSC/DTA/TMA)

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TGA-MS (Thermogravimetry Analysis):

Applications: The different applications of this method are

Determination of the drying temperature of compound;

Identification of the reaction gas from reactions under different temperatures;

Identification of sample composition;

Identification of reactions of materials decomposition and oxidation. For example in the case of polymer, this technique will help to determine the mechanism of their decomposition;

When coupled to a MS, the correct mass change of the sample with temperature can be related to its mass change

Principle: Thermogravimetry is a technique that measures the variation of mass of a sample when the latter is subjected to a temperature program in a controlled atmosphere. This variation of mass can be a loss (vapour emission) or a gain (fixing of gases).

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DTA-MS (Differential Thermal Analysis-Mass Spectrometry):

Applications: The DTA allows the detection of any change of temperatures of a sample due to the chemical modifications of various categories of materials under controlled atmospheres for various applications:

Characterisation of polymers (determination of their decomposition temperature);

Determination of the chemical change of inorganic materials (silicates, ferrites, oxides, ceramics, catalysts, glasses, etc);

Construction of phase diagram;

When coupled to a MS, it allows to link the thermal behaviours to the mass changes.

Principle: Differential thermal analysis is a technique that measures the difference in temperature between a sample and a reference (a thermally inert material) as a function of time and temperature, when they are subjected to a temperature program in a controlled atmosphere. The DTA method makes it possible to detect any change for all categories of material.

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DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetric-Mass spectrometry):

Applications:  This method is used for:

The determination of the purity of materials (polymers, inorganic compounds, pharmaceutical products, etc)

Crystallisation of polymers

Principle: Differential scanning calorimetric is a technique used to determine the variation of thermal flows emitted or received by a sample when subjected to a temperature program in a controlled atmosphere. When heating or cooling, any change occurring in the material is accompanied by an exchange of heat: the DSC permits determining the temperate.

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ThermoMechanical Analysis (TMA):

Applications: This method allows the determination of:

thermal expansion coefficients,

softening,

sintering,

glass transition, etc.

Principle: This technique measures the deformation of a sample under non-oscillating stress against time or temperature, with programmed temperature.

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Parameters measured from the sample:
Dm: measure of the mass loss;
T: measure of the temperature;
H: measure of the enthalpy;
Dl: measure of the deformation
+: this technique can be used to measure this property;
++: this technique is the well appropriate for this method
a: endothermic process:
b: exothermic process

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Parameters measured from the sample:
Dm: measure of the mass loss;
T: measure of the temperature;
H: measure of the enthalpy;
Dl: measure of the deformation
+: this technique can be used to measure this property;
++: this technique is the well appropriate for this method
a: endothermic process: b: exothermic process

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Parameters measured from the sample:
Dm: measure of the mass loss; 
T: measure of the temperature;
H: measure of the enthalpy;
Dl: measure of the deformation
+: this technique can be used to measure this property;
++: this technique is the well appropriate for this method

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