TGA

Q: What’s the difference between TGA and DSC?

TGA measures mass change ; DSC measures heat flow (melting, crystallization, glass transition, etc.). They are complementary and often used together.

Q: Should I test in nitrogen or in air?

Nitrogen/argon: shows decomposition without oxidation (pyrolysis). Air/oxygen: shows oxidation stability and burn-off/ash behavior. Many projects use both , sometimes with a gas-switch program.

Q: Why do different labs get different onset temperatures?

Results can shift with heating rate, sample mass, pan type, gas flow, and sample preparation . We document conditions and can standardize methods for QC comparability.

What is TGA?

TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis) is a thermal analysis technique that measures a sample’s mass change as a function of temperature and/or time under a controlled atmosphere. By tracking weight loss (or gain), TGA reveals information about moisture/volatile content, thermal stability, decomposition behavior, oxidation, and residue/ash content.

TGA is widely used for polymers, composites, coatings, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, inorganic powders, ceramics, and battery materials to support material identification, QC, and thermal reliability evaluation.

What TGA Can Help You Solve

Thermal stability screening (decomposition onset and stability window)
Moisture and volatile content measurement (drying loss, solvent residue)
Composition estimation (organic vs inorganic fraction; filler/ash/residue content)
Oxidation behavior under air/oxygen (oxidation onset, burn-off steps)
Material comparison (lot-to-lot, supplier comparison, before/after aging)
Process troubleshooting (unexpected mass loss stages, contamination, incomplete cure)

Typical Applications

Polymers & composites: degradation steps, filler/ash content, oxidative stability comparison
Adhesives/coatings/resins: residual solvent/volatiles, curing-related stability checks
Inorganic powders & ceramics: dehydration, decomposition (e.g., carbonates), residue behavior
Battery & energy materials: binder burn-off, thermal stability screening (project-dependent)
Pharmaceuticals & chemicals: moisture/solvent content and decomposition profile (project-dependent)
General QC: incoming material verification by characteristic weight-loss fingerprints

Test Capabilities & What You Receive

Core Outputs

TG curve: mass (%) vs temperature/time
DTG (optional): derivative mass loss rate vs temperature (helps separate overlapping steps)

Key Parameters (commonly reported)

Onset temperature of mass loss / decomposition
Stepwise weight loss (%) by temperature range
Residual mass / ash (%) at the end temperature
Oxidation onset and burn-off behavior (in air/O₂)

Atmospheres & Programs (project-dependent)

Inert (N₂/Ar): pyrolysis/decomposition without oxidation
Oxidative (air/O₂): oxidation stability and ash determination
Custom heating profiles: ramps, isothermal holds, multi-step programs (e.g., inert → air switching)

Deliverables

TG/DTG plots (as applicable)
Results table with key temperatures and weight-loss/residue values
Interpretation notes and comparison summary (optional)
Pass/fail vs your specification (if provided)

Sample Requirements

Sample types: powders, small solids, films, fibers, cured resins, composites
Typical amount: usually 5–30 mg (depends on material and method)
Condition: clean, dry, and representative; avoid contamination
Safety & compatibility: provide SDS for unknown/hazardous materials; confirm no unstable/explosive samples
Information to provide: target temperature range, desired atmosphere, expected composition (if known), and your goal (moisture, residue, stability, comparison, etc.)

Workflow

Requirement review (objective, temperature range, atmosphere, acceptance criteria)
Method setup (crucible selection, gas flow, heating program)
Measurement under controlled conditions
Data processing (onset determination, step segmentation, residue calculation)
Reporting (plots + key values + conclusions and recommendations)

FAQs

What’s the difference between TGA and DSC?

TGA measures mass change; DSC measures heat flow (melting, crystallization, glass transition, etc.). They are complementary and often used together.

Should I test in nitrogen or in air?

Nitrogen/argon: shows decomposition without oxidation (pyrolysis).
Air/oxygen: shows oxidation stability and burn-off/ash behavior.
Many projects use both, sometimes with a gas-switch program.

TGA