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The Discovery DSC 2Innovations 4Automation 8Performance 10Applications 12Specifications 16The Discovery TGA 18Innovations 20Automation 22Performance 24Applications 26Specifications 28Discovery Series User Interface 30

DISCOVER A NEW STANDARD INTHERMAL ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY

32

The Discovery DSC represents the latest innovation from TA Instruments. Building

on the Tzero® technology first pioneered in our Q Series™ instruments, the Discovery DSCintroduces our innovative Diffusion-Bonded Sensor technology. This technology represents thefuture of temperature and heat flow measurements.The Discovery DSC provides unmatched precision,accuracy, industry-leading sensitivity and resolution.

The result is a Differential Scanning Calorimeter which improves every aspect of DSC performance…

The New Discovery DSC

DISCOVER ANEW DESIGN

4

TECHNOLOGYDiffusion bonding of metals is accomplished by placing two metalsurfaces in contact at an elevated temperature and pressure.Over time, diffusion of the metals occurs at the atomic level,producing an intimate, continuous, high-quality bond. In the Discovery DSC, chromel and constantan are diffusion-bonded to produce the perfect thermocouple. In the resultant transducer structure, the diffusion bond is positioned just below the sample surface, in the perfect position. Themeasurement is less sensitive to pan placement effects therebymaximizing repeatability. Unlike alternative designs whichemploy discreet sensor points, the Diffusion-Bonded Sensor*represents a continuous thermosensitive surface, dramaticallyimproving sensitivity of the temperature measurement whilemaintaining a very short time constant for excellent signalresolution.

*US Patent No. 7,470,057

DISCOVER THE DIFFUSION-BONDED SENSOR;THE FUTURE OF TEMPERATURE AND HEAT FLOW MEASUREMENTS

5The Discovery Series

THE DISCOVERY DSC INCLUDES MULTIPLE INNOVATIONSDESIGNED TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY

Diffusion-Bonded Sensor

The heart of the Discovery DSC technology is the Diffusion-Bonded Sensor. To ensurehighly-repeatable and stable measurements, the transducer is precision-mounted on a fixed pedestal. Unlike competitive designs where sensors are allowed to move, this pedestal mounting results in a stable configuration with a well-defined heat-flow pathunaffected by thermal gradients. The result is unmatched precision and repeatability ofthe heat flow and temperature measurements.

Gas-Delivery Module

Our innovative Gas-Delivery Module is standard on the Discovery DSC. The manifolddesign eliminates tubing and hardware connections which are prone to leaks, ensuring a highly consistent, repeatable inert atmosphere. For experiments which require dynamic or reactive atmospheres, software-controlled gas switching is alsosupported.

7The Discovery DSC6

Temperature Controlled Electronics

The Discovery DSC cell processes the measured signals through an insulated conduit to state-of-the-art temperature-controlled electronics, eliminatingthe adverse influence of temperature variation on the electronics which is commonly found in competitive technology.

Uniblock Silver Furnace

The Uniblock furnace is precisely machined from a singleblock of silver, providing temperature uniformity and ensuringthermal homogeneity. The result is reduced thermal gradients,increased ruggedness and improved measurement precision.

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Reliable Automation TA’s proprietary autosampler technology* is astandard feature on every Discovery DSC. Field-proven in thousands of laboratories, the reliableand easy-to-use autosampler enables customersto generate superior DSC data around theclock. Powerful new TRIOS software makes iteasier than ever for users to manage the samplequeue. The re-designed Discovery DSC auto-lid provides consistent and repeatable cellclosure, providing effective thermal isolationfor the sensor, and further improving measurement repeatability.

*U.S. Patent No. 6,644,136; 6,652,015;6,760,679; 6,823,278

The Discovery Series

DISCOVER RELIABLE AUTOMATIONAND ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY

1110 The Discovery Series

Performance TA Instruments invented Tzero® Technology, a fundamentally better way to measure heat flow. Tzero Technology provides the flattest baselines, and highest combined sensitivity and resolution of any DSC available. The Discovery DSC builds on this innovation, and through our latest advancements provides unmatched precision, repeatability and accuracy of heat flow and temperature measurements, while maintaining our industry-leading sensitivity and resolution. The result is a DSC which improves every aspect of DSC performance, and delivers meaningful and measurable benefits to the user.

Baseline The foundation of any analytical measurement is the baseline. A well-designed instrument should contribute very little to the sample measurement, and thebaseline is the fundamental measurement of this contribution. For a DSC baseline, the right answer is “zero,” as any errors in the baseline will propagatedirectly to the sample data.

The Discovery DSC technology produces a baseline which is perfectly flat, extremely reproducible, and quantitatively correct. This allows for an unmatcheddegree of accuracy for subsequent enthalpy and heat capacity measurements on your samples.

The figure below demonstrates the performance of the Discovery DSC baseline, in linearity, repeatability and accuracy; critical parameters for quantitativeDSC results.

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Temperature (˚C)

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Repeatability: ±5 µW

Raw Data, Uncorrected, No Smoothing, No Shifting

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13The Discovery Series12

150Temperature (˚C)

159 160 161 162157 158153 154 155 156

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1mg In, 10 ˚C/min N2 purge

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16 µW Peak Height

17 µg Indium, 1˚C/min

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Sensitivity & Resolution There are countless ways to measure the sensitivity of a DSC, and test methods are often exploited to promote performance under a specific set of conditions. However,experienced thermal analysts know that the best DSC provides sensitivity under all experimental conditions. The Discovery DSC delivers the highest sensitivity for a diverse range of heat flow transitions, across a wide range of experimental scanning rates. This is accomplished through the combination of transducer innovations andour patented Tzero® technology which flattens the baseline, maximizes the signal response and minimizes short-term noise. The result is the highest level of sensitivityfor your materials, under any experimental condition.

The figures below demonstrate the high level of sensitivity inherent in the Discovery DSC, for both subtle peaks (17 μg sample of indium) and step change transitionssuch as the 4 μW Tg of a polystyrene sample

80Temperature (˚C)

115 120 125105 11085 90 95 100

~4 µW Step Change

229 µg Polystyrene, 5˚C/min

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Resolution Historically, it was challenging to simultaneously optimize both the sensitivity and resolution of a DSC signal. The faster rates required for higher sensitivity degradedthe resolution of the measurement. This limitation is evident in competitive technology, where users are required to choose between a sensor which optimizes sensitivityversus one which provides higher resolution.

The Discovery DSC is designed to simultaneously optimize both sensitivity and resolution. The Diffusion-Bonded transducer optimizes signal quality and sensitivity whileminimizing thermal resistance, reducing the time constant of the measurement. The result is the highest combined sensitivity and resolution available in a DSC today.

The figure on the left below shows the resolution performance of the Discovery DSC, when quantified using the industry-standard Indium Response Ratio (H/W). The figure on the right demonstrates a practical application of this high resolution, the analysis of an organic compound at 5°C/min. This sample undergoes solid-state“lambda” transition followed closely by a melt. The superior performance of the Discovery DSC allows for these two transitions to be easily resolved.

APPLICATIONS

Temperature (˚C)60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

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1514 The Discovery Series

Direct Measurement of Heat Capacity Many applications require not only the measurement of accurate heat flow, but also quantitative heat capacity. Heat capacity is the fundamental intrinsic property of amaterial which gives rise to heat exchange, and is an incredibly sensitive indicator of structural morphology in a sample. Historically, heat capacity measurements wereperformed using a three-run or step-iso method. In addition to the sample measurement, additional runs were necessary to account for baseline artifacts and non-linearity.Whereas these methods can provide accurate heat capacity, they are laborious and time-consuming.

The Discovery DSC is free from the baseline artifacts which affect competitive instruments. This quantitatively-accurate baseline provides for the direct measurement ofheat capacity in a single run, without the complications and uncertainty of extraneous events or time-consuming requirements of alternative techniques. This allows for additional information to be gathered about your sample, in an accurate, repeatable and easy-to-use manner. Figure A illustrates the high level of precision and accuracy in direct Cp measurements on the Discovery DSC.

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Literature Cp

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APPLICATIONS

145Temperature (˚C)

Temperature Precision: ±0.005 ˚CTemperature Repeatability: ±0.025 ˚C

Calorimetric Precision: ±0.04%Calorimetric Repeatability: ±0.25%

150 155 160 165 170 175-20

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Run # Onset ˚C Maximum ˚C Area J/g1 127.851 131.463 128.4012 127.848 131.467 128.4923 127.873 131.47 128.4534 127.858 131.452 128.5015 127.85 131.42 128.4096 127.866 131.392 128.3447 127.885 131.391 128.4858 127.909 131.387 128.5529 127.914 131.376 128.41410 127.931 131.348 128.588Average 127.879 131.417 128.464δ 0.030 0.044 0.074RSD 0.06%

Sample removed/replaced between runsPrecision and Accuracy An instrument’s performance is only as good as its repeatability, and scientists demand results with a high level of precision and accuracy. TA Instruments recognizesthis need for precise data and have engineered into the Discovery DSC patented and proprietary technology which provides effortless measurement repeatability. The combination of the technical innovations results in a level of measurement precision previously unattainable.

Figures B-D demonstrate this level of measurement repeatability on both standard materials as well as real-life samples. In all cases, the sample was removed and replaced in between each run.

DISCOVER EFFORTLESS REPEATABILITY IN HEAT FLOW MEASUREMENTSFigure A

Figure B Figure D

Figure C

5 mg Indium, 10 ˚C/min. 7.3 mg HDPE, 10 ˚C/min

22 mg Sapphire Disc, 20 ˚C/min. 10 Runs, 10.6 mg Polystyrene, 20 ˚C/min

1716

Technical SpecificationsSpecification Value Temperature Range -180 – 725 °C

Temperature Accuracy ±0.025 °C

Temperature Precision ±0.005 °C

Enthalpy Precision ±0.04%

Heat Flow Noise (rms) ≤0.08 μW

Baseline Linearity (-50° – 400 °C) ≤5 μW

Baseline Accuracy (-50° – 400 °C) ±20 μW

Baseline Repeatability (-50° – 400 °C) ±5 μW

Measurement Time Constant ≤0.8s

Indium Response Ratio ≥90

Direct Cp Accuracy (-50° – 400 °C) ≤3%

Direct Cp Precision (-50° – 400 °C) ≤1%

Direct Cp Repeatability (-50° – 400 °C) ≤1%

Instrument FeaturesTechnologiesColor Touchscreen User Interface Included

Advanced Tzero® Technology Included

Advanced Modulated DSC® Included

Direct Cp Measurement Included

User Replaceable Cell Included

50-Position Autosampler Included

Autolid Included

Dual Input Gas Delivery Module Included

Full Range of Cooling Accessories Available(RCS90, RCS40, LN2P, FACS, QCA)

Photocalorimeter Available

Optical Accessory Kit (Raman, NIR) Available

Compatible with Q Series™ RCS Systems (RCS90 & RCS40)Compatible with Tzero® DSC Sample Encapsulation Press

The Discovery TGA features our industry-leading thermobalance, innovative

IR-heated furnace, patented* Hi-Res TGA™,and an autosampler unmatched in flexibilityand reliability. The new Gas Delivery Module provides gas switching, and blending capabilities for the ultimate in atmospheric control. The Discovery User Interface simplifies interaction with the instrument, and provides for effortless control and monitoring of TGA experiments.The result is the ultimate in sensitivity, accuracy, resolution and temperature control…

The New Discovery TGA*U.S. Patent No. 5,165,792 Canadian Patent No. 2,051,578 European Patent No. 0494492

DISCOVERPOWERFUL

THERMOGRAVIMETRICTECHNOLOGY

19The Discovery Series18

21The Discovery Series20

IR Furnace Our unique furnace technology employs infrared heating providing the widest rangeof temperature and heating rates available. This patented design utilizes four symmetrically-placed halogen lamps with gold elliptical reflectors surrounding a SiCsample enclosure. IR radiation from the halogen lamps result in radiative heating ofthe SiC. Active water-cooling of the surrounding furnace body provides an efficientheat-sink and facilitates precise temperature and rate control. The Discovery TGA can be heated from 0.1 to 500°C/min in linear control, or over 2000°C/min in ballistic heating over the range ambient to 1200°C.

The Discovery TGA furnace includes an integrated electromagnet for automated calibration with Curie point standards. An optional heated outlet is available forevolved gas analysis techniques such as TGA-FTIR and TGA-MS.

THE DISCOVERY TGA INCLUDES MULTIPLE INNOVATIONSDESIGNED TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE

Pan-punchingA special auto-sampler feature is the patentedpan-punching mechanism designed to reliablyopen sealed aluminum pans used to protect atmosphere sensitive samples.Gas Delivery Module

The Gas-Delivery Module (GDM) is standard on the Discovery TGA. The manifolddesign eliminates tubing and hardware connections which are prone to leaks, ensuring a highly consistent, repeatable atmosphere. For experiments which requiredynamic or reactive atmospheres, software-controlled gas switching and blendingis supported (2 gas or 4 gas). Gas flow rates are automatically controlled and recorded to ensure confidence in the quality and repeatability of experimentalresults.

23The Discovery Series22

AutosamplerThe Discovery TGA features our reliable 25-position autosampler. Offering the ultimate in flexibility, the autosampler supports multiple pan types and includes our patented pan-punching mechanism to open sealed aluminum pans just prior to analysis. This allows for effective isolation of air-sensitive or volatile samples while maintaining the productivity of the autosampler.

BalanceThe heart of the Discovery TGA is our proprietary thermobalance. At TA Instruments, we understand the importance of making accurate gravimetric measurements under every experimental condition. As such, our vertical null-balance and integrated electronics are precisely temperature-controlled and effectively isolated from the furnace, resulting in stability and accuracy of the measured weight which is unmatched by any competitive technology.

25The Discovery Series24

Thermogravimetric performance depends on two fundamental variables: weight measurement and temperature control. The Discovery TGA is designed to optimize both of these through innovative design and precise construction.

Weight MeasurementAn analytical balance is designed to provide accurate measurement of weight, usually at ambient temperature. A thermobalance extends this measurement, and provides the weight measurement under dynamic conditions of temperature and atmosphere. A good thermobalance should be ableto provide accuracy under all achievable instrumental conditions, and the TGA baseline is the fundamental measurement of this accuracy. After taring,the theoretical value for the baseline is zero, and this value should be obtained at every temperature, under all conditions.

Some competitive technologies employ good balances, but their performance begins to falter once the furnace is activated. Complicating effects of magnetic fields, buoyancy and inferior design can cause instrumental artifacts such as offset, drift and noise which can compromise accurate TGA performance. The only solution for these effects is to constantly perform baseline or background subtractions, which reduces lab productivity and canpotentially introduce new sources of error into the resultant measurement.

The Discovery TGA incorporates unique and proprietary technology to provide the most accurate measurement of weightunder all experimental conditions. This performance can be quantified by examination of the Discovery TGA baseline, as shown in the Figure to the right. The theoretical value for thebaseline is zero at all conditions; any deviation from this valuerepresents systematic error. The Discovery TGA delivers a flat, fundamentally accurate baseline free from complicating artifactssuch as curvature and slope often seen in competitive technology.Baseline subtractions are never required. This performance is alsohighly repeatable.

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PERFORMANCE

Temperature ControlThermogravimetric experiments require precise, repeatable temperature control. The Discovery TGA features our proprietary IR-heated furnace which delivers unmatched control and stability in ballistic, controlled-heating, and isothermal experiments. The figure on the left illustrates the rapid response and equilibration of the Discovery TGA. The commanded 1000°C temperature jump is precisely achieved in less than 60 seconds, peaking at a ballistic rate of over 2000°C/min.

Isothermal control of temperature is critical for weight measurement stability. The figure on the right shows the temperature and corresponding weight signalsfor an isothermal baseline measured over 12 hours. The temperature deviates less than 0.005°C, which contributes to weight stability within 0.5 μg over theduration of the experiment.

0.0Time (min)

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27The Discovery Series26

Wide Heating Rate Range Improves ProductivityThe IR-Furnace of the Discovery TGA is able to control over a wide range of linear rates, while maintaining quantitative accuracy in weight loss. The data in this figureshow the analysis of the two-step decomposition of a polymer sample analyzed at three different heating rates. Even at the fastest rate of 500°C/min, the quantitativeweight loss measurement is consistent. This allows for a 10X increase in productivity by running samples at elevated rates without any loss of accuracy.

High Sensitivity for Small Weight Loss The baseline stability of the Discovery TGA allows for the ultimate in high-sensitivity measurements. The data in this figure shows the analysis of the decomposition of a5.4 mg sample of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) doped with 10 μg of PVC. The inset view shows an expanded scale, where the first step of the PVC decompositionis clearly detected and quantified, even though the corresponding weight change is less than 6 micrograms!

High Resolution™ TGAThis figure compares the decomposition profile plots of a polyurethane material by standard and by Hi-Res™ TGA. The superior resolution provided by the Hi-Res™ technique is clearly evident in both the TGA and first derivative (DTG) signals. The latter signal is especially useful in defining the onset and end set of the individualweight loss segments, as well as indicating subtle events that provide a “fingerprint” of the sample.

Modulated TGA™The figure to the right shows data from an MTGA™ kinetic study of the effect of temperature on the decomposition of 60 % ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) in a single analysis. The plot quantitatively shows the EVA decomposition profile and changes in activation energy as functions of temperature. The data supports a dual-step decomposition mechanism. MTGA can also monitor activation energy as a function of conversion, which indicates the mechanism involved.

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Polyurethane: Hi-Res TGA

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Wide Heating Rate Range Improves Productivity High Sensitivity for Small Weight Loss

Modulated TGA™High Resolution™ TGA

29The Discovery Series28

Technical SpecificationsSpecification Value Temperature Range Ambient - 1200 °C

Isothermal Temperature Accuracy ±1 °C

Temperature Precision ±1 °C

Heating Rate Range 0.1 – 500 °C/min (linear)>2000 °C/min (ballistic)

Furnace Cooling (Forced air/N2) 1200 to 35 °C in <10 min.

Sample Weight Capacity 750 mg

Dynamic Weighing Range ±100mg

Weighing Accuracy ±0.1%

Weighing Precision ±0.01%

Sensitivity <0.1 μg

Short-term Noise (rms) <0.03 μg

Baseline Linearity (50-1000°C) <1 μg

Baseline Drift <10 μg(50-1000°C, 20°C/min, N2 purge, no baseline subtraction)

Signal Resolution 0.001 μg

Instrument FeaturesTechnologiesColor Touchscreen User Interface Included

Hi-Res TGA™ Included

Modulated TGA™ Included

Auto-Stepwise TGA Included

25-Position Autosampler Included

Integrated Electromagnet Included

Heated EGA Furnace Adapter Available

Dual Input Gas Delivery Module Included

4-Gas Input Gas Delivery Module Available

Vacuum Operation >10-2 torr

TGA/MS Operation Available

TGA/FTIR Operation Available

3130 The Discovery Series

User Interface The Discovery Series redefines the interaction with the instrument. The large, intuitive display and interactive menus guide the user to perform calibrations, control autosampler routines, and load or unload samples. Simple experiments can be programmed and initiated through the new QuickRun menu, and experimental progress can be monitored with the customizable real-time signal display.

DISCOVER AREVOLUTIONARY

NEW USER INTERFACE

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