Using The Tga-Ir Module; Principles Of Operation - Thermo Scientific NICOLET FT-IR User Manual

Using the TGA-IR Module

This chapter provides information about:
• Principles of operation for the TGA-IR Module.
• Setting up the module.
• Cooling the detector.
• Checking the performance of the TGA-IR Module.
• Tips for operating the TGA-IR Module.
Note Maintenance and service information for the gas cell is provided in
the TGA-IR Module Gas Cell Service Guide that came with your
TGA-IR Module.
Principles
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measures a sample's weight
change in a controlled atmosphere as a function of temperature or
of operation
time. The change in weight occurs as the sample decomposes or
evaporates and is usually accompanied by evolved gases.
Combining a TGA and the TGA-IR Module with a Thermo
Scientific FT-IR spectrometer provides a simple and accurate
technique for identifying the evolved gases from a TGA experiment.
This provides information on sample characteristics such as thermal
stability or decomposition pathways.
The sample is loaded onto the balance of the TGA, which is
connected to the TGA-IR Module. A furnace heats the sample at a
programmed rate from room temperature to temperatures in excess
of 1000°C. The software plots a weight loss curve of the data file as
a function of temperature or time.
TGA-IR Module User's Guide 9