Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a technique used in thermal analysis to measure the change in mass of a sample as it is heated, cooled, or held at a constant temperature in a defined atmosphere. It is used by researchers, scientists, and engineers across many industries for precise measurement of thermal effects such as evaporation, oxidation, decomposition, and sorption.
With a highly sensitive built-in ultra-microbalance, for sub-microgram resolution over the whole measurement range, METTLER TOLEDO TGA instruments provide accurate and reliable results that are critical for the development, manufacture, and quality control of a wide range of materials.
The experimental time needed to produce accurate results is reduced by automatic buoyancy compensation. No need to run a blank measurement anymore.
An optimal atmosphere around the sample is provided by the built-in mass flow controller gas supply units, which are software-controlled and do not need any user interaction when starting an experiment.
No other thermal gravimetric analyzer can measure up to 50 million resolution points continuously – weight changes of a 5-gram sample are determined to 0.1 µg.
This means you can measure small and large samples with the same high resolution without having to change the weight range.
Combine two different thermal analysis techniques to provide even more information about the thermal behavior of a sample. TGA measures the change in mass, while DSC simultaneously measures the heat flow as it is subjected to a defined heating program and atmosphere. Combining both these techniques in one instrument provides a more complete picture of a sample's thermal properties.
Our advanced hardware and software automation solutions enhance the efficiency of the entire thermal analysis TGA workflow so you can enjoy reliable, round-the-clock operation.
With its universal gripper, the robust sample robot can automatically process up to 34 samples, even if a different method and crucible are required for each sample. Our entire range of crucibles, from the smallest to the largest, can be handled. Once programmed, your thermogravimetric analysis instrumentation is able to run, uninterrupted, 24 hours a day.
With our STARe software automation solutions, you can simplify sample processing, measurement interpretation, and result assessment, saving you both time and effort.
The unique One Click™ function allows you to easily start predefined measuring methods directly from the TGA instrument touchscreen display. This facilitates the processing of routine measurements by production staff in quality control.
Future proof your TGA analysis – the modular concept of our thermal analysis systems provides you with the flexibility to configure your setup according to your needs. From a simple device to a fully automated system with a sample robot and time-saving software options, you can choose what works for you.
Whether you need to determine sorption, or identify your evolved gases, your system can be configured with ease. Updates and upgrades can easily be implemented at any time to accommodate any change in your needs.
Protect your valuable investment with the modularity and upgradeability of our innovative thermal gravimetric analysis instrument solutions.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a technique used to study the thermal properties of materials. It involves measuring the weight change of a sample as it is subjected to controlled heating or cooling in a controlled atmosphere. By monitoring the weight loss or gain of the sample over a range of temperatures, TGA can provide information about the composition, thermal stability, decomposition, volatilization, and other thermal properties of a material.
TGA is widely used in materials science, chemistry, and engineering to understand the behavior of polymers, ceramics, metals, and other materials under different thermal conditions.
For more information, we recommend watching our free Fundamentals of TGA Analysis webinar.
A TGA curve visually depicts a sample's mass change (y-axis) as temperature increases (x-axis). To interpret a TGA curve, focus on these key elements:
TGA curve interpretation is often the most difficult part of the analysis. To help you correctly interpret your measurement curves, we provide a variety of web-based training courses dedicated to curve interpretation and result analysis. Register for our Thermal Analysis eTraining Courses.
For example, the curve in the diagram shows a single mass loss step of pure polypropylene as it is heated in an inert atmosphere.
The working principle of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) involves continuously monitoring the mass change of a sample while it is heated, cooled, or held at a constant temperature in a controlled environment. A high-precision balance measures the sample's change in weight. The data, plotted as mass versus temperature, provides insights into the material's behavior as the temperature program progresses, including stability and decomposition.
Thermogravimetric analysis works by precisely measuring the weight change of a sample as it is subjected to a controlled temperature program in a controlled atmosphere. The sample is placed in a crucible, which is then placed on a built-in microbalance within the furnace. As the temperature increases, the material may undergo changes that cause a change in weight. The atmosphere can be switched between inert and oxidizing, depending on the experiment. Evolved gases can be transported into connecting equipment for further analysis, to help identify the sample composition.
As the thermogravimetric analyzer continuously monitors the weight change, the data is plotted as weight vs. temperature (or time) to create a TGA curve. This curve reveals key information about the material's behavior at different temperatures.
TGA data typically appears as a weight change (% or mg) vs. temperature (°C) or time (min) curve. Analyzing the curve involves the following steps:
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a type of thermal analysis. This category of techniques studies how materials behave as they are subjected to a controlled temperature program in a defined atmosphere.
The applications of thermal gravimetric analysis encompass a wide range of industries. They involve analyzing the behavior of different materials as a function of temperature, including polymers, metals, chemicals, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals. By measuring mass changes due to decomposition, evaporation, or absorption, thermal gravimetric analysis reveals material composition, thermal stability, and moisture content.
TGA is most frequently used to investigate processes such as vaporization, composition, and decomposition behavior. Evolved gases can be analyzed using hyphenated techniques such as TGA-MS, TGA-FTIR and TGA-GC/MS.
Due to its unique advantages, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is a powerful tool used to characterize materials across many industries. It requires minimal sample preparation and uses only milligrams of material, making it ideal for precious or limited samples. Additionally, its high sensitivity allows for detecting minute mass changes, providing detailed information about decomposition processes.
TGA's versatility extends to diverse fields, including batteries and electronics, polymers, renewable energy components, composites, automotive parts, tires, foods, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. A single test offers a wealth of data, including thermal stability, decomposition behavior, moisture content, and identification of volatile components.
The advantages of our TGA instruments include the world's best METTLER TOLEDO micro and ultra-micro balances, with internal calibration ring weights for unbeatable accuracy. You can calibrate the balance with external weights and measure small or large samples with up to 50 million resolution points, detecting weight changes in 0.1 µg increments. No other TGA offers this level of precision and range.
While thermal gravimetric analysis is a valuable tool for material analysis, it cannot directly identify a specific chemical. It measures weight changes during heating or cooling, revealing thermal behavior but not the exact chemical makeup. However, weight-loss curves can be compared with reference curves of a known material, and when TGA is combined with other complementary techniques and information, such as evolved gas analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis can be a valuable aid in chemical determination.
You might be asking, “So what does thermogravimetric analysis measure?” TGA provides a wealth of measurement information about a material's behavior under changing temperatures by measuring its mass change. Here's what kind of information TGA can provide:
DSC and TGA are two different thermal analysis techniques that analyze different aspects of a material's response to a controlled temperature program. TGA measures mass change by detecting weight loss or gain as a function of temperature. DSC measures heat flow into or out of the sample as a function of temperature.
TGA and DTA are both thermal analysis techniques that provide information in different ways. TGA measures the mass change of a sample as it is subjected to a controlled temperature program. DTA measures the temperature difference between a sample and a reference material to reveal if the sample is absorbing or releasing heat during thermal events like melting or decomposition.
Here are some limitations of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA):
