Thermogravimetric Analysis with prepASH®
What is Thermogravimetric Analysis?
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a type of thermal analysis where the mass of a sample is measured as the temperature changes over time. TGA analysis provides a range of information about the physical and chemical properties of a sample such as thermal stability, how sample composition changes with heat and the inorganic components remaining after all organics and volatiles have been burned off.
These insights are essential in a wide range of applications, for example, in the analysis of thermoplastics, elastomers, thermosets, metals, ceramics and coal and coke (complies with ASTM standardized method ASTM D7582). The Precisa prepASH® Series 340 ash analyzer is also capable of analyses in the chemical, construction, food, animal feed, agricultural product and pharmaceutical industries.
Despite many industries conducting these studies, there wasn’t always an optimal analysis solution. Prior to the automation of TGA as seen in the PrepASH, the analysis was a lengthy, multi-step, labour-intensive process which had the potential for human error and inaccurate results.
Why Choose the prepASH Thermogravimetric Analyzer?
Precisa’s prepASH thermogravimetric analyzer combines high performance, ease of operation, precision, and integrity of measurement to maximize time and accuracy during thermogravimetric analysis, as well as offering traceability in all measurements.
prepASH gives automatic TGA analysis of moisture, volatiles, ash, fixed carbon special application for coal and coke as per ASTM no D 5142-09.
Key Features include:
- Increase sample through-put: The Series 340 prepASH® TGA automatically measures moisture, ash and loss on ignition – significantly increasing sample throughput whilst also reducing costs. You can analyse up to 29 samples simultaneously.
- Maximise productivity: With prepASH, you can determine multiple constituent analysis from one sample in one run: maximizing your labs productivity whilst reducing the time and effort traditionally required. Additionally, you also negate individual user result differentiation – increasing the reproducibility and reliability of your results.
- Resolutely versatile: Adaptable to your sample needs with a selectable combustion atmosphere (N2, O2 and air). Additional scrubber facilitates sulphated ash applications as per pharmacopoeia. The sulfuric acid fuming step can be done automatically in prepASH.
- Create SOPs and store methods: Ability to create and store unlimited methods and define the heating temperature at each step during analysis – you can create standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Limitless applications: Typical applications are analyses of thermoplastics, elastomers, thermosets, metals, ceramics and coal & coke (complies with ASTM standardized method ASTM D7582). The prepASH is also capable of analyses in the chemical, construction, food, animal feed, agricultural product and pharmaceutical industries.
How do I perform thermogravimetic analysis with prepASH?
Combining a muffle furnace, high precision analytical balance and automation, the Series 340 prepASH can measure moisture, ash and volatiles of up to 12, 19, or 29 samples simultaneously. Users can weigh samples directly into the prepASH and can select crucibles which best fit the application. When using the adapters and 12 sample plate from Precisa, users can utilise their own special crucibles if desired. prepASH will continually weigh all of the crucibles to ensure that the weight changes of each sample is being accurately recorded. The automatic sample handling systems minimised the risk of human error, ensuring consistent and reliable results. This can also dramatically reduce the time that theremogravimetic analysis is performed in compared to conventional methods, and provides continual data for the entire temperature range.
The prepASH can operate across a wide temperature range of 50 oC to 1000 oC, with freely definable ramp and hold temperatures to facilitate moisture, volatiles and ashing in one single weighing. Automatic end point detection stops the program when all the samples have reached a stable weight. Alternatively, the analysis can be stopped at a fixed time. Following analysis, a detailed report is generated, which can be saved, exported and transferred to LIMS.
Why the Precisa TGA is right for your thermogravimetric analysis.
At present, there are a variety of automated TGA on the market, and picking the right one for you can seem challenging. However, there are a number of unique key benefits to the prepASH from Precisa which makes it versatile, reliable, and accurate.
- Scrubber Option: The additional scrubber enables sulphated ash applications. The corrosive sulfuric acid vapours released from the crucibles inside the furnace chamber are continually removed to an acid scrubber module– keeping the user safe
- Real time weighing: Directly weigh your samples into the crucibles inside the prepASH. Users can see the weight displayed on the balance in real time, without having to close the lid
- Analyse up to 29 samples: The user has the choice to analyse either 12, 19, or 29 samples simultaneously. When utilising the 12 sample plate and adapters, user can use a wide variety of different crucibles
- Save laboratory space: There is no need for an external computer – everything required for analysis is contained within the prepASH. The intuitive touch screen and language independent icons make operation simple.
If you would like to find our any more about our thermogravimetric analyzer, including the price and how it could work for you in your research, please contact our sales team who will be happy to advise you.
Further Reading
You may be interested in other articles about the thermogravimetric analysis and the prepASH 340.
Reduce Time and Costs with Precia’s prepASH Thermogravimetric Analyzer
Customer Review: Senior QC Lab Technician at DSM
Customer Journey: Supporting Agronomic Research in Europe with prepASH
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