Thermogravimetric Analyzer ISI TGA 1500

Overview

The ISI TGA 1500 is a high-precision thermogravimetric analyzer engineered for rigorous thermal stability, decomposition kinetics, and compositional analysis of solid and powdered materials under controlled atmospheric conditions. It operates on the fundamental principle of continuous mass measurement as a function of temperature or time in a precisely regulated thermal environment. Utilizing a micro-furnace architecture with minimized internal volume and optimized gas dynamics, the instrument achieves rapid thermal response and exceptional atmosphere integrity—critical for studies involving oxidative degradation, polymer pyrolysis, catalyst deactivation, or moisture/volatile loss quantification. The system supports both inert (N₂, Ar) and reactive (O₂, air, CO₂) atmospheres, with dual stainless-steel gas lines enabling seamless, contamination-free switching between purge gases without manual intervention.

Key Features

• Micro-furnace design with ultra-low internal volume for minimized gas consumption and accelerated heating/cooling response
• Dual independent stainless-steel gas purge system with electro-pneumatic valving—eliminates oxygen ingress and ensures reproducible atmosphere transitions
• Patented ultra-microbalance with 0.1 μg resolution and active drift compensation, integrated with a 24-bit analog-to-digital converter for high-fidelity mass signal acquisition
• Electromechanically driven furnace positioning for repeatable sample loading/unloading and precise crucible alignment
• Water-cooled furnace housing to maintain external surface temperatures below 40 °C during extended high-temperature operation (up to 1000 °C)
• Modular expansion capability: optional heated gas transfer lines, quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) or FTIR-coupled evolved gas analysis (EGA), and automated multi-gas switching
• Real-time thermal profile synchronization with mass loss data, including derivative (DTG) calculation and peak deconvolution support

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The TGA 1500 accommodates standard alumina, platinum, and ceramic crucibles (ranging from 70 μL to 250 μL volume), with custom geometries available for specialized applications such as fiber mats or thin films. Its single-sample configuration prioritizes measurement fidelity over throughput—ideal for R&D laboratories requiring trace-level mass change detection and kinetic modeling. The system complies with ASTM E1131, ISO 11358, and USP for residual solvent analysis. When configured with Step ISO software mode and audit-trail-enabled operation, it meets GLP and GMP requirements per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for regulated environments. All gas pathways are electropolished stainless steel; no elastomeric seals contact process gases, ensuring long-term chemical compatibility with corrosive volatiles (e.g., HCl, SO₂, HF).

Software & Data Management

Controlled exclusively via Infinity Pro for Windows, the TGA 1500 provides synchronized real-time visualization of mass, temperature, DTG, and gas flow parameters. The software architecture supports concurrent operation of multiple thermal analyzers on a single workstation, with centralized method storage, user role-based access control, and electronic signature functionality. Raw data files (.itx) retain full metadata—including calibration history, gas sequence logs, and hardware status timestamps—for traceability. Post-run analysis includes isoconversional kinetic modeling (Friedman, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall), residue quantification, and multi-step decomposition fitting. Export options include CSV, ASCII, and ASTM-compliant .tdf formats compatible with third-party thermal analysis suites.

Applications

• Quantitative determination of filler content, ash residue, and organic/inorganic fractions in composites and nanomaterials
• Thermal stability assessment of pharmaceutical excipients and active ingredients under ICH Q1A(R3) guidelines
• Kinetic parameter extraction (Eₐ, A) for solid-state reactions using model-free and model-fitting approaches
• Decomposition onset temperature (T_onset) and maximum degradation rate (T_max) mapping for polymer blends and flame-retardant formulations
• Moisture, solvent, and bound-water loss profiling in battery cathode precursors and MOFs
• Corrosion product evolution studies under simulated flue-gas atmospheres (e.g., O₂/SO₂/H₂O mixtures)

FAQ

What is the maximum operating temperature for the TGA 1500?

The furnace is rated for continuous operation up to 1000 °C, with thermal uniformity ±2 °C across the sample zone at steady state.
Can the instrument perform simultaneous TGA-DSC measurements?

No—the TGA 1500 is a dedicated thermogravimetric platform. For combined thermal analysis, ISI offers the DTA/TGA 2500 series with integrated differential thermal analysis capability.
Is calibration traceable to NIST standards?

Yes—mass calibration uses certified reference weights (Class E2), and temperature calibration follows ITS-90 via NiCr–NiAl thermocouples verified against NIST-traceable fixed-point cells (In, Sn, Zn).
How often does the balance require recalibration?

The auto-stabilization routine executes prior to each run; full two-point mass calibration is recommended every 30 days or after environmental perturbation (e.g., power interruption, relocation).
Does the system support purge gas flow rate programming?

Yes—gas flow rates (10–200 mL/min) can be ramped or stepped independently per temperature segment within the method editor.