Thermal and thermogravimetric analysis in a laboratory
Your needs : to reliably characterize the physicochemical properties of your materials
Thermal analysis is essential for manufacturers wishing to characterise and optimise the thermal performance of their materials. Whether the aim is to understand behaviour at high temperatures, prevent failure or improve product durability, this analysis provides accurate and reliable data. Thanks to techniques such as TGA and DSC, the FILAB laboratory can meet the challenges of the most demanding sectors, from aeronautics to chemicals and plastics.
What is thermal analysis?
Thermal analysis of a material enables the physico-chemical properties of a material to be characterised when it is subjected to external thermal stresses (temperature). This makes it possible to anticipate and therefore predict the performance or quality of a material under specific thermal conditions, throughout its life cycle (from the creation of the formula, through the industrial process and final use).
Optimising materials with thermal analysis
Thermal analysis can be applied to a wide range of industrial sectors to address specific problems:
- Study of the thermal reactions of raw materials or finished products to optimise manufacturing processes.
- Analysis of the thermal stability and phase transitions of polymers to improve their performance.
- Assessment of composite materials and alloys subjected to extreme temperatures, to guarantee their resistance and reliability.
- Characterization of materials used in batteries and fuel cells to ensure their durability and safety.
- Checking the thermal stability of active ingredients to guarantee their efficacy and regulatory compliance.
Types of materials concerned
Thermal analysis applies to a wide range of materials used in industry:
- Polymers and plastics: to study their thermal stability, degradation behaviour or phase transitions.
- Composites: to assess their resistance to high temperatures in applications such as aerospace and automotive.
- Metals and alloys: to analyse thermal expansion and prevent failure under extreme conditions.
- Ceramics: to study their behaviour in high-temperature environments, particularly in the energy sector.
- Chemical and pharmaceutical products: to guarantee their thermal stability and regulatory compliance.
Why carry out thermal analysis of your materials ?
Thermal analysis of a material is used to characterize its physicochemical properties when put under specific thermal conditions (high temperatures). Doing so makes it possible to predict the performance and the behavior of a material in specific thermal conditions at any point in its life cycle (from the creation of the formula, to the industrial production process, to its final use).
How are thermal analysis of your materials performed ?
There are multiple analytical techniques used to highlight different physicochemical properties of a material depending on temperature :
– Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA, TGA-FTIR)
– Differential thermal analysis (DTA)
– Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
– Gas chromatography (GC-MS)
– Thermal desorption analysis (Thermal desorption unit coupled with gas chromatography)
– Pyrolysis analysis coupled with GC-MS
Our solution : to provide you with reliable thermal analysis services and tailored support in interpreting your results
For over 30 years, our FILAB laboratory has had the experience and specific analytical resources to meet the thermal analysis needs of our customers. FILAB helps companies with material characterization through reliable, customised analysis.
Our technical resources for thermal analysis of your material
There are several thermal analysis techniques that can be used to highlight the physico-chemical characteristics of a material as a function of temperature:
- thermogravimetric (ATG technique, ATG coupled with FTIR infrared)
- differential thermal analysis (DTA technique)
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC technique)
- by Gas Chromatography GC-MS
- by thermodesorption (TDU thermodesorber coupled to GCMS gas chromatography)
by pyrolysis coupled to GC-MS (Py-GCMS)
Our laboratory thermal analysis services
Thermal analysis in industry
Thermal analysis is used in many industrial sectors to address specific issues relating to the performance and safety of materials.
> For example, to determine the thermal stability of drugs and the compatibility of components in pharmaceutical formulations. Thermal analysis, using techniques such as DSC, can be used to guarantee the efficacy, safety and longevity of pharmaceutical products, in line with strict industry regulations.
> Ensuring the resistance of materials to extreme temperatures, particularly in the aerospace industry. Thermal analysis helps to select materials that can withstand extreme temperature variations and high thermal conditions.
> Managing heat dissipation in electronic devices to prevent electronic components from overheating. Using infrared thermography and thermal conductivity measurements, we can design more efficient circuits and appropriate cooling systems. Optimising thermal management is essential to extend the life of electronic devices and to minimise the risk of failure due to heat.
In each of these applications, thermal analysis provides valuable data to help industries optimise their materials and products, ensuring performance, safety and regulatory compliance.
Types of failure prevented by thermal analysis
Thermal analysis can be used to prevent or diagnose several types of failure critical to industry:
- Thermal degradation: loss of mass or chemical modification of materials under the effect of heat.
- Uncontrolled phase transitions: melting, crystallisation or vitrification affecting product performance.
- Chemical instability: unexpected thermal reactions that can compromise the safety or effectiveness of products.
- Cracking or deformation: the result of unexpected thermal expansion or contraction, particularly in metals and composites.
- Excessive thermal reactivity: risks of ignition or dangerous decomposition in chemical products.
By identifying these failures, FILAB helps you to guarantee the quality, safety and performance of your materials in their industrial applications.
FAQ
Examples of materials subjected to thermal analysis
Thermal analysis is a scientific technique used to assess the thermal properties of various materials. This laboratory method is used to analyse the physical and/or chemical changes that occur during temperature variation. Materials that are commonly subjected to thermal analysis include polymers, composites, metals, alloys and ceramics. This technique is very useful for determining material properties such as thermal conductivity, heat capacity and thermal diffusivity.
What is a thermogravimetric analysis?
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a technique that measures the variation in mass of a sample as a function of temperature or time. It is used to detect phenomena such as decomposition, dehydration or oxidation by heating the sample in a controlled atmosphere. TGA is used to study the chemical composition, thermal stability and decomposition temperatures of materials, which is essential in research and development, as well as in quality control in many industrial sectors such as polymers and ceramics.
What are the differences between thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis?
Thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis are two very common materials characterisation techniques. Although both techniques focus on measuring the thermal properties of materials, they differ in their approach.
Thermal analysis is a technique that measures thermal properties in the face of temperature variations, while thermogravimetric analysis measures the variation in mass of the same material in response to temperature changes.
In other words, while thermal analysis focuses on the physico-chemical changes induced by temperature changes, thermogravimetric analysis examines the mass variations that result from these changes. These techniques offer an in-depth understanding of the thermal properties of materials and are used in many fields, from industry to research.
How should the results of a thermal analysis be interpreted?
Correct interpretation of the results of a thermal analysis depends on a thorough understanding of the underlying physical principles.
The results of a thermal analysis are often presented in the form of curves representing the evolution of temperature as a function of time or the amount of energy absorbed or released by the sample.
In general, variations in temperature and energy indicate phase transitions or molecular reorganisation in the sample. Understanding these results is essential for optimising the properties of materials.
What thermal properties are analysed during a thermal analysis?
During a thermal analysis, several thermal properties of materials are studied to understand their behaviour under various temperature conditions. Here are the main properties analysed:
> Heat capacity (Cp): This is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of the material by one degree Celsius, providing an understanding of how a material absorbs and stores thermal energy.
> Thermal transition: This includes the detection of transition points such as melting points, crystallisation points and glass transitions, indicating at what temperatures a material changes phase or structure.
> Thermal stability: This property describes the ability of a material to retain its physical and chemical characteristics at elevated temperatures. Thermal decomposition or degradation can be analysed to determine at what temperature a material begins to decompose.
> Thermal conductivity: This is a measure of a material's ability to conduct heat. This property is essential for applications where heat management is critical, such as in insulating materials or electronic components.
> Coefficient of thermal expansion: This quantifies the expansion or contraction of a material in response to changes in temperature, for applications requiring high dimensional accuracy.
> Decomposition temperature: The temperature at which a material begins to decompose chemically, particularly under conditions of high temperature.
> Thermal expansion: This measures changes in dimension in response to temperature. For materials used in construction or the manufacture of components that are subject to temperature fluctuations, this property is vital to ensure structural integrity and material compatibility.
Analysis of these properties helps industries to select, design and manufacture materials suited to specific applications, ensuring performance, safety and durability.
How can thermal analysis help prevent failures?
It can identify phenomena such as thermal degradation, unexpected phase transitions or cracking due to temperature variations, thereby avoiding performance or safety problems.
Which industries use thermal analysis?
It is used in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical and energy industries, for applications ranging from characterisation of materials to validation of manufacturing processes.
What parameters can be measured using thermal analysis?
Thermal analysis measures key parameters such as degradation temperature, thermal stability, enthalpy of transitions, coefficients of thermal expansion and mass losses.
What are the expected results of a thermal analysis?
Results include thermal behaviour curves (TGA, DSC) or precise data on expansion, critical temperatures, mass losses, and material-specific thermal transitions.
Why use a specialist laboratory for thermal analysis?
A specialist laboratory offers state-of-the-art equipment and qualified experts, and guarantees analysis that complies with industry standards (ISO, COFRAC), essential for meeting the requirements of complex industrial projects.
