Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The aim of this proposal is to replace our old thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) by a new one and upgrade the apparatus by addition of a mass spectrometer (MS). This TGA-MS will be used for materials characterization in the Chemistry Department of UQAM and at INRS-EMT. Firstly, a new TGA is urgently needed in our department because the current old one has almost reached the end of its useful lifetime. Secondly, the addition of a MS to the TGA will provide us with an invaluable tool for materials characterization. The TGA-MS technique is required for various research programs/projects in the area of energy conversion, materials science, polymer science and biomaterials. The requested TGA-MS system can be used for:i) the characterization of modified carbons, metals and metal oxides; ii) gas analysis of waste gas from carbon fiber recovery pyrolysis; iii) studies dealing with the preparation of coatings for wirebonds prepared by catalytic polymerization and iv) the synthesis of hybrid materials for energy applications and detection of emerging pollutants in water. Beyond its important impact on the specific research programs described below, acquisition of this TGA-MS system will be essential for training efforts in our two institutions. Based on the past utilization of our current TGA, a minimum of 25 HQPs will be using the TGA-MS system every year.