TA Instruments TGA 2050, Operator'S Manual

Page: 15 / 130

TA I
NSTRUMENTS
TGA 2050 1–3
Introduction
Your TA Instruments Thermogravimetric
Analyzer (TGA) 2050 is a thermal weight-
change analysis instrument that can be used with
any of the TA Instruments PC-based controllers.
The TGA 2050 measures the amount and rate of
weight change in a material, either as a function
of increasing temperature, or isothermally as a
function of time, in a controlled atmosphere. It
can be used to characterize any material that
exhibits a weight change and to detect phase
changes due to decomposition, oxidation,or
dehydration. This information helps the scien-
tist or engineer identify the percent weight
change and correlate chemical structure, pro-
cessing, and end-use performance.
Your controller is a computer that performs the
following functions:
• Provides an interface between you and
the analysis instruments
• Enables you to set up experiments and
enter constants
• Stores experimental data
• Runs data analysis programs.
The TGA 2050 executes thermal experiments
that have been set up on the controller. See
Figure 1.1 on the next page for an illustration of
a TGA system.
Introduction