Applications of TG-FTIR:
From Polymers to Pharmaceuticals, Foods, and Inorganic Materials

TG and STA reveal when mass changes and thermal events occur but cannot identify the substances responsible for those changes. TG-FTIR adds evolved gas analysis, allowing reaction products to be identified in real time. This makes it possible to distinguish between processes such as dehydration, decomposition, oxidation, combustion, and additive volatilization while directly correlating chemical information with TG and DTA signals.

The technique identifies gases released during each stage of heating, allowing researchers to distinguish thermal decomposition products from combustion products. For example, epoxy-based fiber-reinforced plastics release bisphenol A during thermal decomposition, while carbon dioxide is produced during combustion of the carbonized residue. This information improves understanding of decomposition mechanisms, recycling processes, and combustion behavior.

Yes. TG-FTIR can quantify evolved gases by calibrating infrared absorption intensity against reference materials with known gas evolution. Because the optical path length remains constant and the signal is not significantly affected by changes in furnace atmosphere, the method provides stable quantitative measurements of gases such as H₂O and CO₂. This capability is useful for estimating emissions during polymer combustion and comparing combustion characteristics among different materials.

During ceramic debinding, organic binders decompose while ceramic powders remain. TG-FTIR shows how the presence of inorganic fillers influences decomposition temperature and changes the composition of evolved gases. These insights help optimize heating profiles, reduce defects during binder removal, and improve understanding of interactions between binders and ceramic materials.

Many additives evaporate or decompose at different temperatures than the base polymer. TG-FTIR identifies characteristic infrared spectra of evolved compounds, allowing plasticizers and other additives to be distinguished from decomposition products. In PVC formulations, for example, the plasticizer evolves before the polymer itself begins producing hydrogen chloride during decomposition, enabling clear separation of these processes.

Many pharmaceutical materials contain water or solvent molecules within their crystal structures. TG-FTIR confirms whether observed mass loss results from dehydration or solvent release by directly identifying the evolved species. This provides greater confidence in interpreting loss-on-drying measurements and evaluating hydrate stability during thermal analysis.

TG-FTIR monitors oxidation reactions as they occur during heating by identifying gases such as carbon dioxide and aldehydes while simultaneously recording thermal events and mass changes. Combined with complementary FTIR measurements of the oil itself, the technique provides insight into oxidation pathways, formation of degradation products, and chemical changes associated with thermal deterioration.

TG-FTIR distinguishes dehydration, phase transformations, and high-temperature decomposition by identifying the gases evolved at each stage. During gypsum heating, it detects water released during dehydration and sulfur dioxide generated during decomposition. When gypsum is reacted with carbon during recycling processes, TG-FTIR reveals the sequence of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide evolution, helping clarify the underlying reaction mechanisms.