Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is an analytical technique that determines a material's thermal stability by measuring the weight change as a sample is heated. Our lab has two TGA systems capable of reaching high temperatures.
The CAHN TGA system measures the mass-loss rates of a sample, gathering data every 0.5 seconds.
This TGA is capable of high temperature runs with the graphite oven wall insert option and can heat at a max rate of 100°C/min. The mass balance has a high sensitivity with 0.00059µg resolution and can hold up to a 35g sample. This modular system can perform evolved gas analysis of samples with a high temperature coupled FTIR and/or mass spectrometer. An additional coupling enables differential thermal analysis (DTA) for the determination of characteristic temperatures such as mineral melting points or dehydration reactions, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to yield precise determinations of thermodynamic values such as the heat of fusion or heat of crystallization for key species.
Two highly adaptable FTIRs that span the UV through MIR spectral range. Capable of using internal and external beam sources with different beam path options available and multiple detectors. Coupled with modular high temperatures FTIR cells capable of taking spectra of materials at various phases over large temperature and pressure ranges.
We have two chambers capable of simulating the temperature, pressure, and chemistry of the Venus environment from the top of the atmosphere down to the surface. These chambers are useful for instrumentation and science investigations.
