termogravimetriä

Termogravimetriä, often abbreviated as TGA, is an analytical technique used to measure the change in mass of a sample as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere. This method is valuable for characterizing materials by revealing their thermal stability and composition. During a TGA experiment, a sample is placed on a sensitive balance within a furnace. The furnace temperature is then increased, typically at a linear rate, while the mass of the sample is continuously recorded. Alternatively, the temperature can be held constant for a period while mass changes are monitored.

The recorded data, a plot of mass versus temperature (or time), can reveal several important properties. For instance, a decrease in mass typically indicates the decomposition, volatilization, or oxidation of the sample. Conversely, an increase in mass might suggest oxidation or absorption of atmospheric components. The temperatures at which these mass changes occur, along with the magnitude of the mass loss, provide information about the sample's thermal stability, the presence of volatile components, and the stoichiometry of decomposition reactions. TGA is widely employed in various fields, including polymer science, materials science, pharmaceuticals, and geochemistry, for purposes such as determining moisture content, analyzing organic and inorganic constituents, and evaluating the thermal degradation behavior of materials.