Thermal Analysis Trivia

10th : How Can Thermal Analysis Be Used in the Ceramic Firing Process? (2): Applying Sample-Controlled Thermal Analysis

Sample-controlled thermal analysis enables more advanced optimization of debinding and sintering conditions.

Conventional thermal analysis allows evaluation of temperature ranges and the magnitude of changes during debinding and sintering. However, sample-controlled thermal analysis, SCTA—such as dynamic TG and dynamic TMA—enables more advanced optimization of firing conditions.

Sample-controlled thermal analysis is a technique in which thermophysical property is controlled using the mass loss rate in TG or the shrinkage rate in TMA as a pre-selected parameter. Measurements are performed while maintaining a constant reaction rate.

During debinding process, the firing temperature strongly affects the binder decomposition rate. Higher firing temperatures (i.e., faster reaction rates) shorten processing time, but may cause defects such as cracking or delamination due to rapid gas evolution.

By performing dynamic TG measurements, it will be possible to determine the temperature program conditions required to proceed with debinding while suppressing the rapid release of gas.

With dynamic TMA, sintered bodies can be produced at a controlled and specified shrinkage (sintering) rate. Because the physical properties of sintered bodies—such as density—may depend on the sintering rate, comparing properties of samples sintered at different rates is an effective way to determine production control conditions for achieving the desired material properties.