Thermogravimetry: the evaluation and classification of plastics Dr G Kaiser, Dr E Moukhina and Dr A Schindler discuss the importance of thermogravimetric analysis for polymer blends and mixtures. 1 order to increase eicieney in laboratory work, simplification and standardisation of test procedures is ongoing. Particularly high demands are made in instrument software Usability nd automatic evaluation routines ace of key importance When it comes to thermogravimetrc analysis it is now possible to create instrument-independent seasurement methods to automatically detect, evaluate and classify thermal effects, Tests on a sample material ‘canbe earied out with various thermogravimetsc instruments (ofthe same type under identical conditions, leading to identical results. Tying exrors during transfer of measurement programmes from one lab to anather or varying evaluation results caused by Afferent users, within the same lab, can be eliminated, Thermogravimetry (TG oF thermogravimetri analysis (IGA) isan established method for compositional analysis of polymer blends and mixtures. With TGA, itis possible tod such as platiciser- the polymer proportion, and the fle content within a polymer. Additionally it delivers information about the thermal stability of a Plastic material or about its decomposition kinetics. A series of national and international standards, such as 150 11358 or ASTM E113, give recommendations for sample preparation and fr the selection of suitable ‘measurement conditions. TGA measures the amount and rate (velocity) ‘of change inthe mass ofa sample asa function of temperature or time ina controlled atmosphere. The technique can analyse materials that exhibit either sass lass or gain because of decomposition, oxidation ‘oF loss of volatiles. tis especially useful forthe study ‘of polymeric material, including thermoplastics, ermine the amount of volatiles thermosets, elastomers, composites lms, fibres, coatings and paints ‘Generaly, mass changes can be detected after 3 period of time fat an isothermal temperature) or within a certain temperature interval (upon heating). Dynamic measurements performed during heating preva. The ‘occuring evaporation/éecomposition pattern allows for conclusions tobe drawn on the polymer type and the nature of the volatile, However, the decomposition ‘temperatures of many polymers are quite close to each ‘other and the resulting TGA curve is therefore not always clear enough for a dstnet analysis, In such cases, coupling to gas analysis systems, such as Fourier-Transform infrated spectrometer Quality control To Find out whether the present TGA curve conforms tareference measurement, users take, In most cases, the classical route via evaluation and comparison ofthe experimental data with documented ones. However, if there ae regions within the TGA curve ‘where the evaluation limits cannot be clearly defined, the caleuation can yield diferent mass-Ios values, although the base material remains the same. Figure 1 displays a TGA measurement on a part made ‘6 wood polymer compound (WPC), with polyethylene 4s the polymer matrix material Between the second and thtd mass loss step faround 400-420°C), the TGA curve slightly declines, resulting in a curve that does not precede parallel to the x-axis, This allows variable positioning of the valuation limits (witha fixed evaluation limit at 204°C and a second one varying between 401-418°C), creating a mass difference af 1.3%, This difference could be decisive in pas or fll tests. ‘Things can be altered using AutoFvaluation, developed by NETZSCH, Germany, the First autonomous acting evaluation software for thermal analysis. The ‘operator obtains user-independent and objective results with ust one click, AutoBvaluation can also be integrated directly inta a measurement method. In this case, the evaluation starts automatically 35 soon asthe measurement has finished. The outcome i evaluated curve, which is, for exam, available as an analysis results sheet. The curve (Figure 2) is based ona method earied ‘ut with the NETZSCH TG 209 F3 Tarsus. As each reasurement method is instrument-independent, it ean ‘also be used on any other thermobatance systems from