TGA of rubber materials according to ASTM D6370

Understanding the composition of rubber materials is essential for material screening, quality control, and troubleshooting purposes. ASTM D6370 outlines a method to analyze rubber composition with the help of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

With TGA, rubber samples are heated to determine the amount of components present.

The analysis includes the determination of:

• Amounts of organics (oil and polymer content)

• Carbon black content

• Amount of ash (filler content)

Testing is performed from a temperature of 50 °C to 800 °C. The heating stages consist of 50–550 °C in an inert gas (typically nitrogen) and from 300–800 °C in a reactive gas (air or oxygen).

Please note that this method is not suitable for rubbers containing fillers that decompose in the temperature range of 50 to 800°C. These filler materials include, for example, CaCO₃, Al(OH)₃, and (3H₂O).