EXPERIENCES IN DEVELOPING AN AUTOMATED FACTOR-JUMP METHOD OF THERMOGRAVIMETRY

We have recently provided details of an apparatus and computer programs to implement the factor-jump method of thermogravimetry. This paper describes the refinement of the technique to the present status of quasi-automatic routine operation. The procedure was worked out using samples of polymethyl-methacrylate, polystyrene and polyurethane polymers. The activation energies obtained are measured to 0.2 kcal mole-1 in favorable cases. This is adequate for diagnosis of changes in mechanism but may sometimes be inadequate for scaling temperature accelerated tests to room temperature. © 1979.