8. Compatibility between materials and atmospheres

Another very important practical point when considering a thermogravimetric measurement is the match between the materials making up the system and the atmosphere in which the experiment is taking place. To avoid damaging the system, it is important to know the compatibility between the materials and the atmosphere, especially when working with a corrosive gas atmosphere. This may be the case when the sample is likely to produce corrosive vapors, or when you wish to study the interaction between a corrosive gas and a sample.

Different materials can be used for the crucibles that hold the samples and the suspensions or rods, depending on the temperature range and atmosphere. The most commonly used materials are silica, platinum, alumina, tungsten or graphite.

• Silica (SiO ₂ ...