Thermal Analysis
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TECHNIQUE NOTE Thermal Analysis The scientists at EAG are experts in using thermal analysis techniques for materials characterization as well as for designing custom studies. This application note details TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), TG-EGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis with Evolved Gas Analysis), DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), TMA (Thermomechanical Analysis) and DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis). These techniques have played key roles in detailed materials identifications, failure analysis and deformulation (reverse engineering) investigations. THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS (TGA) DESCRIPTION • Vaporization, sublimation TGA measures changes in sample weight in a controlled thermal • Deformulation/failure analysis environment as a function of temperature or time. The changes in • Loss on drying sample weight (mass) can be a result of alterations in chemical or • Residue/filler content physical properties. • Decomposition kinetics TGA is useful for investigating the thermal stability of solids and liquids. A sensitive microbalance measures the change in mass of STRENGTHS the sample as it is heated or held isothermally in a furnace. The • Small sample size purge gas surrounding the sample can be either chemically inert • Analysis of solids and liquids with minimal sample preparation or reactive. TGA instruments can be programmed to switch gases during the test to provide a wide range of information in a single • Quantitative analysis of multiple mass loss thermal events experiment. from physical and chemical changes of materials • Separation and analysis of multiple overlapping mass loss COMMON APPLICATIONS events • Thermal stability/degradation studies LIMITATION • Investigating mass losses resulting from physical and chemical changes • Evolved products are identified only when the TGA is connected to an evolved gas analyzer (e.g. TGA/MS or TGA/ • Quantitation of volatiles/moisture FTIR) • Screening additives COPYRIGHT © 2017 EAG, INC. | REV. 11.16.18 M-003416 EAG.COM Thermal Analysis THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS WITH EVOLVED GAS ANALYSIS (TG-EGA)590 °C 580 °C 10 0 -10 -20 CO2 TG, % -30 Abs, au Abs, -40 0 200 400 600 800 Abs, au Abs, Temp, °C CO C H OH 6 5 600 ºC H2O Abs, au Abs, 580 ºC Abs, au Abs, 560 ºC Abs, au Abs, 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Wave Number, cm-1 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 5001000 ºC 500 Wave Number, cm-1 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 4001000 ºC 500 Wave Number, cm-1 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Wave Number, cm-1 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 50000 Wave Number, cm-1 DESCRIPTION COMMON APPLICATIONS TG-EGA instrumentation is used to study the physical and • Thermal stability (degradation) studies chemical processes that result in mass loss or gain. Like standard • Monitoring mass changes under controlled gas atmosphere TGA, the sample is heated in a controlled gas atmosphere using and temperature with identification of off-gassing and a programmed temperature sweep or isothermal hold. But TG- pyrolysis products EGA goes one step further: a gas analyzer is coupled to the TGA • Analyzing trace volatiles, dehydration, additives, chemical furnace using a heated transfer line, which enables analysis of the reactions, formulation components, mechanism of gases evolved by the sample during heating and pyrolysis. The decomposition evolved gas analyzer is used to identify the chemistries present in the off-gassing and pyrolyzed components. • Analysis of polymers, organic and inorganic materials Evolved Gas Analyzer options for TG-EGA include: STRENGTHS • Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) – • Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and identification of chemical family, and, in some cases, specific characterization of evolved chemical residuals compound • Small sample size • Mass Analyzer – chemical residuals are specifically assigned, • Analysis of solids and liquids with minimal sample preparation but sometimes have other possible answers • Detection of multiple mass loss thermal events from physical and chemical changes of materials LIMITATIONS TGA/DTA • TGA-FTIR does not detect non-polar molecules, such as H2, N2, O2 ∆T kg • TGA-FTIR spectral identification of product gases may be limited to chemical family or class • Secondary gas-phase reactions can complicate identification of product gases COPYRIGHT © 2017 EAG, INC. | REV. 11.16.18 PAGE 2 OF 6 EAG.COM Thermal Analysis DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY (DSC) DESCRIPTION • Resolve subtle, weak or overlapping phase transitions DSC performs quantitative calorimetric measurements on STRENGTHS solid, liquid or semisolid samples. Heat flux DSC measures the • Small sample size difference in temperature (T) between the sample and an inert reference and calculates the quantity of heat flow (q) into or out of • Highly accurate measurement of phase transitions and heat the sample using the equation q = DT/R, where R is the thermal capacities resistance of the transducer (DSC cell). • Very precise temperature control (isothermal holds and DSC Q SeriesTM models (TA Instruments, Inc.) measure absolute heating/cooling ramps) heat flow by application of cell resistance and capacitance • Programmable sequences calibrations. This feature enables the direct measurement of • Sensitive measurement of subtle or weak phase transitions specific heat capacity of a material using a single experiment. The • Ability to separate overlapping thermal transitions Q SeriesTM feature a special operating mode called temperature modulated DSC (MDSC). MDSC applies a sinusoidal temperature LIMITATIONS modulation superimposed over a linear heating rate. MDSC is a • Works best for samples having a surface that spreads powerful technique which makes it possible to measure weak relatively flat against the bottom of the “crucible” or pan. transitions, separate overlapping thermal events and provide highly accurate heat capacity measurements. • Accurate data cannot be obtained when decomposition occurs within the same temperature region as the phase COMMON APPLICATIONS transition (e.g. melting) • Analyze phase transitions and reactions: melting point, • Mass of sample has to remain constant in the pan for accurate crystallization, glass transition, cure temperature, delta H measurement; that means no loss of sample to evaporation or • Measure the heat capacity of pure compounds and mixtures sublimation during the test • Compare quality (QC, failure analysis, new material evaluation) • Identify unknown materials • Evaluate formulations, blends and effects of additives ∆H (T,t) ∆H (T,t) • Determine the effects of aging and evaluate thermal history • Estimate percent crystallinity • Determine percent purity of relatively pure organics • Study cure or crystallization kinetics and effect of impurities on crystallization • Determine phase separation of polymer blends and copolymers • Estimate degree of cure; measure residual cure • Evaluate eutectic point • Characterize polymorphic materials COPYRIGHT © 2017 EAG, INC. | REV. 11.16.18 PAGE 3 OF 6 EAG.COM Thermal Analysis THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS (TMA) DESCRIPTION COMMON APPLICATIONS TMA is used to study physical properties of viscoelastic materials • Determine softening point (Tg) of polymers under mechanical loading as a function of temperature and time. • Measure coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of polymers, Measurements are performed in either compression or tension composites, ceramics, inorganics and metals mode by a probe that applies force to the sample. • Characterize CTE differences of polymer in glassy state Typical viscoelastic materials exhibit volume changes with ramping (below Tg) and in rubbery state (above Tg) temperature. As the sample changes dimension, the probe travels • Study effects of physical aging, crosslinking or post-cure on up or down, and the distance of travel is precisely measured by a the Tg of thermoplastics or thermosetting polymers transducer coupled to the probe. The measured change in sample length correlates with such properties as shrinkage, expansion, • Determine dimensional stability of parts at operating swelling and softening. temperature and loading TMA techniques involve selection of the correct probe and • Characterize shrinkage of oriented films conditions to measure the properties of interest. Typical probe • Evaluate differences in shrinkage and expansion of films configurations include: or layered composites as a function of loading direction: • Compression-type force: Probe is placed on top the sample, “machine” and “transverse”, or “in-plane” and “out-of-plane” which is mounted on a platform. Used to monitor expansion, • Force ramp or step force to evaluate changing load on shrinkage or softening based on selection of contact area dimension change (probe tip geometry) and force. • Isostrain: measure the force required to maintain constant • Tension-type force: Film or fiber sample is clamped between strain while material is heated a stationary platform and the probe. Used to measure STRENGTHS expansion, shrinkage and softening. • Small sample size • Low force range F • Force alteration: linear and stepwise • Programmable temperature: (1) sequential heating and ∆L sample cooling cycles, (2) isothermal cool heat LIMITATIONS • Requires parallel faces and uniform thickness for expansion • Reasonably flat samples for penetration COPYRIGHT © 2017 EAG, INC. | REV. 11.16.18 PAGE 4 OF 6 EAG.COM Thermal Analysis DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYSIS (DMA) DESCRIPTION more stationary clamps, which are used to mount the sample. The Polymers respond to the energy