Q5000 tga analyzer

TGA-IR spectra were recorded using a Q 5000 TGA analyzer (TA Instruments Ltd., New Castle, DE, USA), which was interfaced to a Nicolet 6700 FTIR spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific Ltd., Waltham, MA, USA). Samples (about 15 mg) were tested in an alumina crucible at a 45 mL/min nitrogen flow and at a heating rate of 20 °C/min from room temperature up to 700 °C.

Several methods were used to characterize the particles. Morphology and particle size of the samples were determined by use of a transmission electron microscope (TEM; Hitachi H-7500, Japan) at 80 kV accelerated voltage. The crystal phase was investigated by use of a PAN analytical X’pert Pro diffractometer (XRD, Almelo, Netherlands) by using Cu Kα radiation ranging from 10° to 80° with a scan step of 0.02°. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using a Q5000 TGA analyzer (TA Instruments, Japan) under a flow of air with a temperature ramp of 10 °C min⁻¹. FTIR spectra were performed on a NEXUS 670 Infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer (Nicolet Thermo, Waltham, MA). The specific surface area, pore size and volume were measured by BET methods (ASAP2000 V3.01A; Micromeritics, Norcross, GA). X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was acquired with an ESCA-Lab-200i-XL spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA) with monochromatic Al Kα radiation (1486.6 eV).The magnetic properties were analyzed on a LDJ9600 vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM, LDJ9600, Troy, MI).

The thermal stability of PLA, ABC plasticized PHB, PLA/PHB blend, and biocomposites (PLA/PHB/CFw, PLA/PHB/CF) was investigated using a Q5000 TGA analyzer (TA Instruments Inc., New Castle, DE, USA) in the range between room temperature and 700 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min in a nitrogen atmosphere, with a flow rate of 40 mL/min.