Design, calibration and testing of a new macro-thermogravimetric analyzer

The design and development of a macro-thermogravimetric (TG) analyzer are presented. Two sources of measurement bias are studied: balance heating and the effect of viscous forces. Temperature regulation and measurement are discussed. In a second part of the study, results obtained with the newly developed macro-TG system for the dehydration of CuSO₄·5H₂O are compared with data obtained with a commercial thermobalance. The effects of mass and of the heating rate on TG and differential TG curves are discussed. Finally, the effect of the initial mass of a polyethylene sample on its combustion is studied as an example application of the macro-TG device.