termogravimmetrisellä

Termogravimetrisellä, often abbreviated as TGA, is a thermal analysis technique used to measure the change in mass of a sample as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere. This technique provides valuable information about the thermal stability of materials, decomposition processes, and the presence of volatile components.

During a TGA experiment, a sample is placed in a crucible which is then heated at a controlled rate within a furnace. A sensitive balance continuously records the mass of the sample throughout the temperature program. The resulting data is plotted as a thermogram, showing mass loss or gain against temperature.

Common applications of TGA include determining the moisture content of a material, identifying the decomposition temperature of polymers, assessing the purity of substances, and studying the oxidation or reduction behavior of inorganic compounds. The atmosphere surrounding the sample can be varied, such as inert (nitrogen or argon) or oxidizing (air or oxygen), to study different chemical reactions. Analyzing the shape and extent of mass loss events on the thermogram allows researchers to infer the composition and thermal behavior of the material under investigation.