New Thermal Analysis Equipment Acquired

The M&P Lab has recently added two state-of-the-art Q SeriesT thermal analysis instruments from TA Instruments to the chemical analysis department.

The Q600 Simultaneous TGA/DSC (SDT) provides simultaneous measurement of weight change (TGA) and differential heat flow (DSC) from ambient to 1500 °C. SDT technology features a dual beam thermobalance that compensates for beam growth and buoyancy contributions to baseline drift; thermocouples that provide differential temperature measurements (DTA) within the dual ceramic beams; and a purge gas system with digital mass flow control, gas switching capability and a separate gas inlet for the option to deliver reactive gas to the sample. For analyzing samples that tend to lose weight during heating, the new Q600 technology provides improved DSC accuracy when the instantaneous weight, rather than the initial sample weight, is used in heat flow integration. The DSC signal is also useful in providing higher temperature solid state phase and melting transitions where no weight loss occurs.

The new Q600 Simultaneous TGA/DSC is particularly useful for the determination of filler content in plastics, rubbers and coatings; solidus and liquidus in metals; braze or solder melting properties; moisture content; thermal decomposition temperatures; cure reactions and other important material properties.

The new Q400 Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA) is useful for measuring dimensional changes under conditions of controlled temperature, atmosphere, time and force. This instrument is capable of running experiments from -150 °C to 1000 °C. Force can be applied in flexure, compression or tensile modes. The Q400 TMA is also equipped with a purge gas system with digital mass flow control and the option to provide inert, oxidizing or reactive gases to the sample.

A wide range of materials such as solids, coatings, foams, films, and fibers can be characterized for expansion, penetration, compression, tension, and 3-point bending. The M&P Lab uses TMA to measure material properties such as expansion coefficient, glass transition, softening and melting behavior, delamination, shrinkage, flexure, and to generate stress/strain information for our clients.

<< Back to news page