Thermogravimetry. The material composition of polymers is an important quality criterion. The relative amounts of the constituents present can be determined by means of thermogravimetric analysis, which also provides information on the thermal stability of these compounds.

While Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) may be the best-known thermoanalytical measurement method in the polymer world, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA or TG, Thermogravimetry) as defined in ISO 11358 or DIN 51006 is used primarily in the rubber industry. There, the plasticizer, elastomer and carbon black contents, for example, are determined quantitatively by means of the mass loss as a function of temperature or time. TGA also finds use for analysis of the material composition and thermal stability of thermoplastics and thermosets, especially in the case of blends, filled and unfilled compounds.
With TGA, a sample is placed in a refractory crucible of inert material (e.g. industrial alumina) in a defined environment (heating rate, gas atmosphere, flow rate, type of crucible, etc.) and heated in a controlled manner, with the composition of the sample ultimately being established through comparison of mass loss, temperature and time. The sample holder is connected to a weigher that records mass changes during heating. The temperature is measured by means of a supplier of thermocouple positioned very close to the crucible.

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