SOP TGA 4000‐ PERKIN ELMER How to use the TGA 4000 ? ‐ Switch on your computer and Log on under your user name. ‐ Login on this link: http://lppc35.epfl.ch/CAE1200/cae.html to switch on the instrument. ‐ Open Software Pyris. ‐ Double clic on TGA 4000 at the top left of the screen. ‐ Purge gas: on the Control Panel press Apply Purge gas (nitrogen 20mL/min). ‐ Let the instrument equilibrate for at least 1h. ‐ Under method Editor. ‐ Create a method:     Sample info: o o o Sample ID Operator ID Save Data As  Browse (save the sample under data and your file ending with _###) Initial State: o Right click under the action and select change action. 1. A signal Equilibrate 2. A specific Time is reached 3. Action occurs immediately o Set initial Values: Temperature: enter value Program: enter values and program o Minimum temperature to start: 30°C. o Maximum temperature 950°C. o Add/Modify step, put the initial/final temperature. Heating rate between 0.01°C/min and 50°C/min will accurate the results. View program: summarize of the method ‐ Open File and Save Method As… (Under Method and your file). ‐ Open the Player Editor  Edit Play List o o o Sample List Browse the Method Name Click on a sample and fill:  Sample ID     Operator ID  Location (the crucible that you will use) o Save Data As: File Name Browse Come back to sample list and place the crucible(s) where you located it/them o Tare List o At the end of the tare clic Done Put your product in the crucible(s) (ideally between 2‐15mg) o Weight List to check the amount of your product. Press Play. Data Analysis:  Press on the data analysis icon and start the analysis Cleaning: After each use the cover of the chamber and the crucibles have to be cleaned! 1) Put the crucible in the chamber and leave it open. On the Control Panel select the temperature to 900°C and press the button Go to Temperature . Wait till it reaches the 900°C and then wait for 5 min. When your crucible is clean, select the temperature to 30°C and press the button Go to Temperature. 2) If you’re working with samples which cannot be cleaned with the first method you can take them in your lab (please let me know) and clean them.