TA Instruments Q5000 coupled with Pfeiffer ThermoStar quadrupole mass spectrometer

Thermogravimetry - mass spectrometry is a hyphenated thermal analytical technique in which released volatiles from a thermobalance (see TGA) are transferred through a heated fused silica tubing (300°C ) towards a dedicated quadrupole mass spectrometer (see MS) as detector.
During the TGA experiment mass spectra are continuously accumulated as a function of temperature (time).  Mass spectra or better mass kinetograms of clusters of specific mass-ions allow identifying classes of components with the mass losses of the thermobalance within a certain temperature range.  TGA/MS experiments can be performed in an inert (He, N₂) or oxidative (air, O₂) atmosphere.

Typical applications

• Simulation of a incineration or pyrolysis process.
• Identification and quantification of the volatiles released during a thermal process (incineration and/or pyrolysis).
• Identification and quantitative analysis of the volatiles released during thermoformation processes (e.g. extrusion).
• Evolved gas analysis.