Characterisation of Elastomers Using Multi Hyphenated Thermogravimetric Analysis Techniques

Thermal analysis is a group of techniques in which a physical property of a substance is measured as a function of temperature when the sample is subjected to a controlled temperature program. Single techniques, such as thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), dielectric thermal analysis, etc., provide important information on the thermal behaviour of materials. However, for polymer characterisation, for instance in case of degradation, further analysis is required, particularly because all of the techniques listed above mainly describe materials only from a physical point of view. A hyphenated thermal analyser is a powerful tool to yield the much-needed additional chemical information. In this paper we will concentrate on simultaneous thermogravimetric techniques. 

The thermal characterisation of elastomers has recently been reviewed by Sircar [28] from which it appears that DSC followed by TG/DTG are the most popular thermal analysis techniques for elastomer applications. The TG/differential thermal gravimetry (DTG) method remains the method of choice for compositional analysis of uncured and cured elastomer compounds. Sircar s comprehensive review [28] was based on single thermal methods (TG, DSC, differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), DMA) and excluded combined (TG-DSC, TG-DTA) and simultaneous (TG-fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR), TG-mass spectroscopy (TG-MS)) techniques. In this chapter the emphasis is on those multiple and hyphenated thermogravimetric analysis techniques which have had an impact on the characterisation of elastomers. The review is based mainly on Chemical Abstracts records corresponding to the keywords elastomers, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermal analysis, infrared and mass spectrometry over the period 1979-1999. Table 1.1 contains the references to the various combined techniques. 

---

Characterisation of Elastomers Using (Multi) Hyphenated Thermogravimetric Analysis Techniques... 

---