Applications of Hyphenated Thermogravimetric Analysis Techniques

Thermogravimetric analysis can yield a considerable amount of information about the composition of an elastomer system and is a common means of testing of EPDM rubber compounds [51]. The DTG curve may serve as an identifier of the type of elastomer in a compounded formulation. 

Sircar [138] has reviewed the analysis of elastomer vulcanisate composition by TG/DTG techniques. The classical ASTM method, D297-93 [139], is too lengthy to be of much practical use on a routine basis, often requires preliminary identification of the polymer and is costly. TG has gained itself wide acceptance as a method for quantitative compositional analysis of vulcanisates ASTM El 131 [140], is basically designed for the analysis of rubber compounds [141]. Thermogravimetric analysis can be used to determine  

Hyphenated thermogravimetric techniques have been used in a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative problem-solving cases for elastomeric materials  

TG-FTIR Vulcanisation [32], ageing characterisation [39, 48], sulphur components in rubber [31], polyurethanes [37], polymer degradation mechanisms [30, 40, 41], identification of base polymers [36, 43, 44], thermal stability [46], grafted flame retardants [47], differentiation of EVA rubbers [45] and AN-NBR rubbers [36, 44], degradation of chlorinated natural rubber [42], 

TG-DTA Characterisation of carbon black [149], flammability evaluation [64], polymer degradation studies [65], ageing studies [70-72], product control [77, 81], combustion performance [83], safety evaluation [83], antioxidation activity [68], pyrolysis of rubbers [82], thermal stability [67, 69, 76, 77], interfacial junctions in viscoelastic composites [78], weathering [72], vulcanisation [73], oxidative behaviour [79], materials evaluation [80], failure analyses [81], 

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