Ceramic Materials (STA)

Simultaneous Thermal Analyzers Testing Thermal Decomposition Properties of Ceramic Materials

Ceramic materials, which are excellent inorganic non-metallic materials, have a wide range of applications in many fields such as aerospace, electronic information, energy, and environmental protection. They possess outstanding properties such as high strength, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance. However, under different operating environments, ceramic materials may undergo temperature changes that can lead to physical or chemical transformations, directly affecting their performance and service life.
Simultaneous thermal analysis technology can measure the thermogravimetric (TG) and differential heat (DTA) or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of ceramic materials under the same experimental conditions, providing accurate data support for investigating the changes that occur in ceramic materials during the heating process.

Measurement Principle

Simultaneous thermal analyzers are mainly based on the principles of thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to perform simultaneous testing of ceramic materials.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG): A technique that measures the relationship between the mass of a substance and temperature or time under a program-controlled temperature. When ceramic materials are heated under a specific temperature program, chemical reactions such as decomposition, oxidation, and reduction, or physical changes such as dehydration and gas release may occur, resulting in changes in their mass.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): A technique that measures the relationship between temperature or time under controlled conditions and the heat difference required per unit mass of a sample compared to a reference object. It can more directly reflect the energy changes of materials during thermal transitions, providing more accurate data for studying the thermal stability and reaction kinetics of materials.

Measurement Instruments

STA1500 Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer

Measurement Standards

GB/T 36402-2018 Thermal Analysis of Ceramic Materials – Mass Spectrometry Test Method

Measurement Steps

1. Sample preparation: Grind the tested ceramic material into a homogeneous powder and sieve the sample to the appropriate particle size. Place two empty crucibles on the sample rod and stabilize before the TG balance.
2. Sample loading: Remove the correct reference crucible, put in an appropriate amount of the sample required for the experiment, and place the crucible into the furnace body.
3. Set experimental parameters: In the instrument’s operating software, set the atmosphere type (nitrogen, air, etc.), with gas flow rate typically 50–100 mL/min, heating rate usually 5–20 °C/min, final temperature, and other parameters.
4. Start experiment: After confirming that the parameters are correct, start the experimental program. The instrument will begin heating according to the set temperature program while simultaneously collecting data such as TG and DSC.
5. Data processing: After the test, process the collected data using the instrument’s data analysis software, draw the TG curve or DSC curve, and perform the corresponding analysis and calculations.

Illustration

This figure shows the experimental data diagram of alumina ceramic materials. The sample was heated to 1150 °C at a rate of 20 °C/min under a nitrogen-protected atmosphere. The sample remained very stable up to about 900 °C without any mass change. After 900 °C, the internal high-temperature binder and inorganic additives began to react sharply, decomposing and causing weight loss. From the figure, the total weight loss of the sample from room temperature to 1150 °C is 11.95%, with a mass loss of 2.43 mg. In addition, the DSC spectrum shows a significant exothermic reaction during the weight loss process, as the ceramic material tested contained some energetic adhesive residues, and the exothermic condition occurred during high-temperature decomposition.

Experimental Result

Simultaneous thermal analysis technology can comprehensively and accurately reflect the mass changes and thermal effects of ceramic materials during the heating process, providing a reliable experimental basis for studying the thermal properties of ceramic materials. For example, in the research and development of ceramic materials, the synthesis process can be optimized according to the test results to improve material performance; in quality control, the purity and stability of materials can be quickly detected to ensure product quality.