How to Select Sample Pans for TA Instruments TGA 2050/2950

by Redthermo - 2023-03-07

Sample Pans for TA Instruments TGA 2050/2950

TA Instruments Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) 2050/2950 is a thermal weight-change analysis instrument compatible with any TA Instruments PC-based controllers and associated software. It enables the measurement of the rate and amount of weight change in a material in a controlled atmosphere either with increasing temperature or isothermally over time. This device is used to investigate materials that display such changes, as well as to identify phase transitions due to decomposition, oxidation, or dehydration. Its findings can be used to evaluate the percent weight change and link chemical composition, processing, and end-use performance.

General Outline of TGA Experiments

Running a TGA experiment will have the following general experimental procedures. In some cases, not all of these steps will be performed:

Ⅰ Choosing the type and material of the pan

Ⅱ Loading the pan

Ⅲ Taring the empty sample pan

Ⅳ Inputting the experiment details on the TA controller

Ⅴ Choosing the thermal method on the controller

Ⅵ Attaching and setting up external accessories as required

Ⅶ Beginning the experiment

This article will focus on selecting the sample pan.

The type of sample pan used in TGA experiments varies depending on the material being analyzed.

The TGA 2050/2950 has three types of sample pans available: platinum (available in 50 and 100 µL sizes), alumina ceramic (available in 100, 250, and 500 µL sizes), and aluminum (100 µL size). When selecting a sample pan, the following factors should be taken into consideration:

Platinum pans are the preferred material for most experiments, due to their easy cleanability and insusceptibility to reacting with most organics and polymers. Ceramic pans, though, can be more vulnerable to contamination due to their porosity. In some situations, however, alternative types of pans are preferable, as elaborated below.

Samples that might amalgamate or react with platinum (e.g. metals, corrosives or inorganics) should be handled with ceramic pans.

When disposability is the goal, aluminum pans are an ideal choice. They can be used in experiments with temperatures up to 600°C and with samples that do not react with aluminum.

For experiments in which your sample might melt, be sure to use a 500µL ceramic pan that is deep enough to prevent spilling.

Platinum and ceramic pans can be reused. To clean them between experiments, you can use a Bunsen burner, a propane torch, or a hot thermal program in the TGA. However, do not attempt to clean and reuse aluminum pans, as they are intended to be disposable.

Redthermo can supply the replacement parts as following:

TGA 2050/2950 Parts List

Part No.	Description
952018.906	100 µL platinum sample pan
952018.907	100 µL ceramic sample pan