Thermogravimetric and dilatometric studies using Stepwise Isothermal Analysis and related techniques

Abstract

The Stepwise Isothermal Analysis (SIA) technique, which was introduced by the author in the late seventies has proved to be very useful both in thermogravimetric and dilatometric studies. By this technique the heating and cooling programme is controlled by the rate of the reactions taking place in the sample, for instance thermal decompositions (TG) or sintering (dilatometry). By an advanced computer programme this control is achieved in the following way: The sample is heated at a constant heating rate until the reaction rate. i. e. the slope of the weight/length versus time curve, exceeds a preset limit at which point the heating is stopped. The reaction thereafter proceeds isothermally until the rate again becomes smaller than the limit where the heating is resumed. By this techniques the reactions thus characteristically take place in isothermal steps.