Thermal Analysis Techniques

This lecture covers various thermal analysis techniques, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) used to measure mass changes in samples with temperature variations, differential thermal analysis (DTA) to measure temperature differences between samples, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to quantify energy changes during phase transitions. The instructor explains how these techniques are applied in material characterization, including examples of TGA plots for calcium oxalate and CO2 adsorption studies, as well as DSC data interpretation for polymer heat capacity and crystallization. The lecture also touches on the importance of reference samples, instrument sensitivity, and the distinction between endothermic and exothermic transitions.

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Differential thermal analysis

Differential thermal analysis (DTA) is a thermoanalytic technique that is similar to differential scanning calorimetry. In DTA, the material under study and an inert reference are made to undergo identical thermal cycles, (i.e., same cooling or heating programme) while recording any temperature difference between sample and reference. This differential temperature is then plotted against time, or against temperature (DTA curve, or thermogram). Changes in the sample, either exothermic or endothermic, can be detected relative to the inert reference.

Thermal analysis

Thermal analysis is a branch of materials science where the properties of materials are studied as they change with temperature.

Differential scanning calorimetry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. Both the sample and reference are maintained at nearly the same temperature throughout the experiment. Generally, the temperature program for a DSC analysis is designed such that the sample holder temperature increases linearly as a function of time.

Thermogravimetric analysis

Thermogravimetric analysis or thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is a method of thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is measured over time as the temperature changes. This measurement provides information about physical phenomena, such as phase transitions, absorption, adsorption and desorption; as well as chemical phenomena including chemisorptions, thermal decomposition, and solid-gas reactions (e.g., oxidation or reduction). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is conducted on an instrument referred to as a thermogravimetric analyzer.

Heat capacity

Heat capacity or thermal capacity is a physical property of matter, defined as the amount of heat to be supplied to an object to produce a unit change in its temperature. The SI unit of heat capacity is joule per kelvin (J/K). Heat capacity is an extensive property. The corresponding intensive property is the specific heat capacity, found by dividing the heat capacity of an object by its mass. Dividing the heat capacity by the amount of substance in moles yields its molar heat capacity.

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