LMS Volume 33 |ssue 4 | Page 44

44  LMS  Issue 4 | 2014 Thermal Analysis Hyphenated Solutions P erk i n E l mer h a s been pioneering hyphenated solutions through a comprehensive range of thermal, spectroscopy and gas chromatog raphy solutions. Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA) involves u nd e r s t a nd i n g ho w materials respond to non-standard test environments, how they degrade or what gases evolve when these materials burn. PerkinElmer’s thermogravimetric instruments can be coupled to Fourier Transform-Infra red spectroscopy (F T-IR), mass spectrometry (MS), or gas chromatography (GC)/MS to help advance the power of analysis in laboratories. The combination of a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) with an IR is the most common type of EGA in use today. A sample, which has been heated on the TGA, will release volatile materials or generate combustion components as it burns. These gases are then transferred to the IR cell, where the components can be identified. IR analysis allows greater understanding of the processes seen in the TGA because of its ability to detect functional groups. The PerkinElmer TL 8000 transfer line is a state-of-the-art system designed to make sure every component evolved in the TGA is transported to the IR. Combining a TGA with a MS will allow the detection of very low levels of impurities. By heating a sample on the TGA, it will release volatile materials or combustion components as it burns. These gases are then transferred to the MS for identification. Although TG-MS allows real time monitoring, it can be confusing due to overlapping events and higher mass ions obscuring those of lower mass. By adding GC to the system, these events can be cleanly separated and very low levels of impurities detected. ⚛ PerkinElmer Contact: Chris de Jager Tel: 011-564-2400 Email: info.za@perkinelmer.co