Ida Tarko

Measurement of biogenic or biobased carbon in the material or product as a percent of the total carbon or total organic carbon in the product. ASTM D6866 outlines two ways of expressing the proportion of material that originates from renewable resources. Biogenic carbon content indicates the proportion of total carbon (TC) originating from renewable resources. Alternatively, inorganic carbon can be removed before testing, and the result is then expressed in relation to total organic carbon (TOC), giving the biobased carbon content. An additional cost applies to the removal of inorganic carbon. The price is for non-volatile samples. If your sample is volatile, please discuss the suitability of your sample type with our experts. Please also note that we cannot accept samples that contain artificial carbon-12, carbon-13, or carbon-14 isotopes because they will cause damage to the equipment. Note! The results obtained for gaseous emissions should always be expressed as "biogenic carbon content" because the initial step of converting carbon to gaseous CO2 cannot be done when the carbon is already in gaseous form. Biobased carbon content determination by ASTM D6866 does not reveal how much of the sample's total weight originates from renewable sources. This can be estimated, however, by combining data on biobased carbon content with information on the total carbon content of the product. Biobased content measurement by EN 16785-1 may also be considered as an alternative.

In TGA, the sample is heated at a controlled rate or kept at a controlled temperature while its mass is weighed with an extremely precise scale. The analysis provides information about phase transitions, absorption, adsorption, desorption, chemisorption, thermal decomposition, and solid-gas reactions. It can also be used as a characterization and compositional analysis method. As a result of the measurement, you will get the change in mass as a function of temperature and time. A simultaneous thermal analysis (TGA + DSC) can be performed upon request. The type of heating cycle can be tailored to your sample (temperature ranges from 25 °C to 1100 °C), with various options for the surrounding gas atmosphere (air, O₂, and N₂). Please disclose the aim of the measurement and the desired temperature program and atmosphere(s) upon ordering.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is used to determine transition temperatures and enthalpy changes of solid and liquid samples under controlled temperature changes. The analysis can be used to determine the melting, crystallization, and glass transition temperatures and their enthalpies, the material's amorphic and crystalline behavior, hardening and specific heat, material compatibility, and the effect of additives. The temperature range for the measurement is -170 °C to 600 °C, available atmospheres are N₂ and O₂. Please disclose the desired temperature program upon ordering: heating rate(s) (K/min), isotherms, and temperature ranges (min/max). If you have any doubts about these parameters, we are more than happy to help.

Qualitative identification of chemical groups in solid samples by Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Results will be delivered as an FTIR spectrum. In addition, a comparison to an FTIR library will be provided. The method is not quantitative, but it can be used to identify the main chemical components of the sample.