Technical Reference
Theory of Operation
4–16
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a thermal
analysis technique for measuring the amount and
rate of change in sample mass as a function of
temperature and time. It is used to characterize
any material that exhibits weight loss or phase
changes as a result of decomposition, dehydra-
tion, and oxidation. Two modes are commonly
used for investigating thermal stability behavior
in controlled atmospheres: (1) dynamic, in
which the temperature is increased at a linear
rate, and (2) isothermal, in which the tempera-
ture is kept constant.
TA I
TGA 2950
NSTRUMENTS