In thermogravimetry or thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the change in mass of a sample is examined as a function of temperature. For this purpose, the sample is heated in an inert crucible. To prevent reactions, the sample can be purged with inert gas (e.g. nitrogen 5.0) during heating. If oxidation processes are to be simulated, oxygen or other gases can also be used for purging. The changes in mass at certain temperatures then allow conclusions to be drawn about the reactions taking place (e.g. the evaporation of water from 100 °C).
Contact person: Hans-Dieter Schmidt
With its high information content, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is an indispensable test method in incoming inspection as well as in development, production, quality assurance and failure analysis.
DSC can be used to investigate physical changes of state or chemical reactions that are accompanied by a change in enthalpy or specific heat capacity as a function of temperature or time.
As a standard method in plastics characterization, the DSC method provides valuable information about important parameters, such as glass transition areas, melting points or areas or degrees of crystallinity, which depend on the material itself, but are also determined by the mechanical and thermal conditions in the manufacturing process.
Another typical area of application for DSC is determining the purity of substances based on the change in melting point caused by impurities. However, purity testing via the change in melting point is only possible if the pure substance forms eutectic mixtures with the impurity.
Contact person: Hans-Dieter Schmidt
In thermomechanical analysis, the change in length of a specimen is measured as a function of temperature without - or with (alternating) application of force.
Application:
e.g. determination of the thermomechanical properties of materials under alternating load or under extreme load.
Contact person: Hans-Dieter Schmidt
![[Translate to English:] Typische TMA (Thermomechanische Analyse)-Messung bei ATU GmbH - Analytik für Technik und Umwelt](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/0/csm_TMA_a1aa2a18ed.jpg)
In dilatometry (DIL), the linear expansion of a sample is measured over the course of a specified time-temperature program.
Application: Determination of the temperature-dependent, linear expansion coefficients (Tα) of metallic, ceramic and polymer materials.
Contact person: Hans-Dieter Schmidt