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.