A new high sensitivity thermobalance

A new thermobalance is described which gives a direct plot of percentage weight loss versus sample temperature, without the need for replotting the results. The unit operates over the range ambient to 1000°C and features a miniature water-cooled furnace in conjunction with an electronic microbalance, giving sensitivities of 1–250 mg for full scale deflection on a potentiometric recorder. Heating rates of 1–100°C/minute are available and the furnace will cool from 1000°C to 50°C in less than four minutes. Typical applications of the unit are illustrated by reference to a number of inorganic and polymer systems.