Thermogravimetric and dilatometric studies using stepwise isothermal analysis and related techniques

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. This technique is especially useful in studies of thermal decompositions and it is believed that the decomposition températures determined by SIA is much more accurate than those determined by other techniques even for materials involving consecutive and close-lying reactions. One typical application of this technique is establishment of optimum conditions for removal of organic binders from ceramic powder compacts prepared for instance by dry pressing or injection moulding. The SIA technique is also very useful in kinetic studies and with the advanced computer systems available today rather sophisticated control and analysis of the data can be obtained. One example, which will also be discussed in the presentation, is a study of the decomposition of Ce-carbonate using first the standard technique described above by which the reaction mechanism could be established and then followed by the so-called Forced Stepwise Isothermal Analysis technique (FSIA) by which the activation energy could be obtained. Finally the SIA technique is also very useful in dilatometric sintering studies and to demonstrate this the result obtained both using SIA and the related 'constant shrinkage rate' technique in a study of the initial sintering stage of CeO₂ will be presented.