Thermo Scientific TGA User manual

TGA Interface
with OMNIC Paradigm software
User Guide
269-362100 Revision A March 2023

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase
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The contents of this document are subject to change without notice. All technical information
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two documents.
For Research Use Only. This instrument or accessory is not a medical device and is not
intended to be used for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or cure of disease.
WARNING
Avoid an explosion or fire hazard.
This instrument or accessory is not designed for use in an explosive
atmosphere.

Safety label locations
The TGA-IR Module comes with numerous safety labels. Heed the label content to avoid
injury or hazard.

TGA-IR Module
The TGA-IR Module allows you to couple your Thermo Scientific Nicolet™ iS™50 and iS20
spectrometers with a Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) furnace to run TGA-IR deformulation
experiments when used with our OMNIC Paradigm software. The infrared spectrometer and the
accompanying software provide state-of-the art tools to identify evolved gases and gas mixtures.
Figure 1-1: Nicolet iS50 spectrometer with TGA-IR Module installed
Thermo Scientific TGA Module User Guide 4
Chapter 1

TGA-IR Module
ANicolet iS50 FTIR spectrometer
BTGA-IR Module
Before operating the TGA-IR Module, you should have a working knowledge of your FTIR
spectrometer and the OMNIC™ Paradigm software. You will also need to know the fundamentals of
thermogravimetric analysis and the operating characteristics of your TGA furnace.
Safety label locations 3
TGA-IR Module 4
About the TGA-IR Module 10
Important features 11
Specifications 14
Compatible software 16
Safety and operating precautions 17
TGA-IR sampling 20
Setting up the TGA-IR system 22
Preparing the TGA furnace 22
Preparing the FTIR spectrometer 23
Installing the TGA-IR Module 25
Setting the flow cell and transfer line temperature 37
Checking the detector signal 40
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Performing a TGA-IR measurement 42
Preparing the TGA-IR system for sampling 42
Samples compatible with TGA-IR 44
Analyzing a test sample 44
Import TGA data 47
Configuring series data collection to start automatically 48
Turning off the TGA-IR system 50
Removing the TGA-IR Module 52
Maintenance 56
Storing the TGA-IR Module 56
Cleaning the TGA-IR Module housing 57
Flow cell maintenance 58
Transfer line maintenance 82
Replacing fuses 84
Troubleshooting 88
Power indicator does not light 88
No heat or heats slowly 89
Transfer line and flow cell heat too rapidly (or very slowly) 90
Input/fail error 90
Temperature overshoot or undershoot 91
No spectroscopic IR signal 91
No detectable sample gas 91
Spectroscopic IR signal is reduced 92
Thermo Scientific TGA Module User Guide 6
TGA-IR Module

TGA-IR Module
WARNING
Avoid personal injury or equipment damage. Read and understand the
accompanying documentation and all safety labels before attempting to install
or use this equipment.
Using this document
This document describes how to install, operate, and maintain the TGA-IR Module and conduct TGA-
IR experiments. It includes important safety precautions; always read and follow these precautions.
For more information about TGA-IR Module safety, refer to the TGA-IR Module Site and Safety
Supplement, which is included in your Thermo Scientific electronic documentation set.
Conventions used
This document uses these conventions for providing safety as well as other important information:
CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT
DANGER
Avoid hazard. Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will
result in serious injury or death.
WARNING
Avoid hazard. Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in serious injury or death.
7 TGA Module User Guide Thermo Scientific

CAUTION
Avoid hazard. Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE
Follow instructions with this label to avoid damaging the system hardware or losing data.
Note Contains helpful supplementary information.
Tip Provides helpful information that can make a task easier.
Thermo Scientific TGA Module User Guide 8
TGA-IR Module

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About the TGA-IR Module
The TGA-IR Module fits in the sample compartment of a Nicolet Series FTIR spectrometer or AEM,
and connects to the TGA furnace through a heated transfer line.
Figure 2-1: Nicolet iS50 spectrometer with TGA-IR Module installed
Thermo Scientific TGA Module User Guide 10
Chapter 2