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Introduction to Annexes
Jennifer Banks, a senior research analyst at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plans to
replace the old TGA (Thermogravimetric analyzer) in the R&D department with a modern and
more reliable version which can provide repeatable data.
Two TGA models have been selected that meet the requirements of Ms. Banks. These are
TGA Q5000 IR from TA Instruments and TGA 4000 from Perkin Elmer. These instruments will
be evaluated according to the following criteria in order of their importance to Ms. Banks and
Goodyear: Capabilities, Value, and Operational Costs.
ANNEX A: CAPABILITIES
Annex A is divided into two subparts: Weight Balance and Furnace
Part 1: Weight Balance
Definition:
In this study, Weight balance refers to the specifications of the weight balance used in the
TGA which include its capacity, sensitivity, accuracy and other essential data. The weight
balance capabilities are important for Goodyear as accurate and precise weight readings are very
important to get consistent results in a TGA experiment. Weight and temperature are the most
important variables in a TGA experiment.
A balance capacity of 20-60 mg will receive a rating of acceptable and capacity of 61-
2000 mg will receive a rating of good. Balance sensitivity of equal or less than 1 g will receive
a rating of good; sensitivity between 1-2 g will receive a rating of acceptable. Signal resolution
of less than 0.09 g will receive a rating of good and a resolution of 0.10-0.50 will receive a
rating of acceptable. Balance accuracy of less than 0.05 % will receive a rating of good and
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accuracy of 0.06-0.10 % will receive a rating of acceptable. Balance precision of less than
0.04 % will receive a rating of good and precision of 0.05-0.08 % will receive a rating of
acceptable. Scanning baseline dynamic drift of less than 1 mg will receive a rating of good and
dynamic drift of 1-60 mg will receive a rating of acceptable.
Comparison:
The table below shows the weight balance capabilities of TGA Q5000 IR and TGA 4000
along with their ratings.
Capabilities TGA Q5000 IR Rating TGA 4000 Rating
Capacity 100 mg Good 1500 mg Good
Sensitivity <0.1 g Good 1 g Good
Signal resolution 0.01 g Good 0.2 g Acceptable
Accuracy 0.1 % Acceptable 0.02 % Good
Precision 0.01 % Good 0.01 % Good
Scanning baseline
dynamic drift
<10 g Good <50 mg Acceptable
Table A.1: Weight Balance Capabilities (10,13)
TGA sample for rubber analysis usually weighs 10-12 mg and so both TGAs receive a
good rating. Both TGAs have different weight balance constructions which offer different
capabilities in terms of measurement (10,13). Balance sensitivity is the smallest amount of
weight difference that will change the instrument's reading. Although both TGA models have a
good rating, Q5000 IR has a lower sensitivity which will provide slightly better data than TGA
4000. Signal resolution is the smallest unit of weight that can be detected by the instrument.
Q5000 IR is capable of detecting very minute weight changes in comparison to TGA 4000 due to
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its lower signal resolution as well as sensitivity. This can assist in Goodyear in determining the
amount of additives or volatiles present in rubber compound in small quantities especially in
reverse engineering of competitor's product.
Accuracy measures how close the measured value is to the true or actual value. The
specifications indicate that TGA 4000 has a better accuracy than Q5000 IR, but sensitivity and
resolution specifications indicate Q5000 IR to have more accurate weight measurements. The
accuracy measurements were done at stable and isothermal conditions, whereas in a TGA
experiment, weight continuously keeps changing (11). So, a better balance sensitivity and
resolution would ensure a better data for Goodyear's analysis. Precision defines repeatability of
the measurement and measures how close are the results of repeated measurements under same
conditions. Baseline dynamic drift is the variation of baseline from a straight line caused by
convection effects of hot gases in TGA which leads to change in actual weight measurements
(2). Q5000 IR has a very low baseline drift of <10 g in comparison to <50 mg of TGA 4000,
which will ensure better repeatability and aid with detection of sub microgram weight changes.
Part 2: Furnace
Definition:
In this study, Furnace refers to the specifications of the furnace used in the TGA which
include its temperature range, heating rate, cooling rate and other essential data. The furnace
capabilities are important for Goodyear as stable and accurate temperatures are very important to
get consistent results in a TGA experiment. As mentioned previously, temperature is one of the
most important variables in a TGA experiment.
Temperature range of 1000 C or higher will receive a rating of good and a range of up to
800-999 C will receive a rating of acceptable. Maximum heating rate of 150 C/min or higher and
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will receive a rating of good; a maximum heating rate less than 150 C/min but more than 100
C/min will receive a rating of acceptable. A minimum heating rate of less than 0.3 C/min will
receive a rating of good; a minimum heating rate of 0.4-0.7 C/min will receive a rating of
acceptable. Cooling rate cannot be compared with a rating scale, so it will be discussed and
evaluated in the comparison section. Scan temperature accuracy of less than or equal to 1 %
will receive a rating of good; accuracy of 1.1-1.5 % will receive a rating of acceptable. Scan
temperature precision of less than 0.4 % will receive a rating of good; precision of 0.5-1.0 %
will receive a rating of acceptable.
Comparison:
The table below shows the furnace capabilities of TGA Q5000 IR and TGA 4000 along
with their ratings.
Capabilities TGA Q5000 IR Rating TGA 4000 Rating
Temperature
range
Ambient - 1200 C Good Ambient - 1000 C Good
Maximum heating
rate
500 C/min Good 200 C/min Good
Minimum heating
rate
0.1 C/min Good 0.1 C/min Good
Cooling rate 1200 C to 35 C in 10
min
1000 C to 100 C
in 8 min
1000 C to 50 C in
11 min

Scan temperature
accuracy
1 % Good 1 % Good
Scan temperature
precision
0.1 % Good 0.8 % Acceptable
Table A.2: Furnace Capabilities (10,13)
The nominal maximum temperature of TGA testing for rubber samples is around 800-900
C. Both TGA models offer temperature range higher than what would be required and can be
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useful in experiments with some special additives. Rubber samples are mostly tested with a
heating rate of about 20 C/min to, but it can vary depending on testing needs and type of
experiment (11). Faster rates can be used for quality analysis purposes. Manufacturers of both
TGA models specify cooling rate with different temperature ranges which made it difficult to use
a formal rating scale. As can be seen from table, Q5000 IR has the capability to cool down from
1200 C to 35 C in 10 minutes, which is a wider range of temperature with lower time when
compared to cooling rates of TGA 4000, making Q5000 IR better than TGA 4000 in terms of
faster cooling rate. This is due to forced air cooling employed in Q5000 IR instead of chilled
water used in TGA 4000 (9,10,13). Faster cooling rates help in productivity by reaching the
ambient temperature quickly, so the next test can be started.
Accuracy and precision have been defined in the comparison section of previous subpart.
Q5000 IR has a better precision value than TGA 4000 ensuring more consistent temperature
control and experiment results. The better precision in case of Q5000 IR is due to the use of
Infra-red furnace (IR) along with a unique thermocouple assembly (2,12,13). TGA 4000 uses
heater windings for temperature control and has a larger samples space which might make it
harder to control temperature in the chamber (10).

ANNEX B: VALUE
Annex B is divided into three subparts: Initial Investment, Training and Features.
Part 1: Initial Investment
Definition:
In this study, Initial investment includes the price of the base model, shipping cost with
insurance, instrument installation cost and warranty period. The initial investment is important to
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Ms. Banks and Goodyear as they are also planning on upgrading other instruments in their lab
and would like to avoid unnecessary expenses.
As Goodyear would prefer a TGA that would cost least and at the same time meet their
testing requirements, an initial investment of less than $50,000 would receive a rating of good. If
the initial investment is between $50,000 and $80,000, the TGA would receive a rating of
acceptable. Goodyear requires the TGA to have a minimum warranty of at least 1 year.
Comparison:
Both TGA models include accessory kits with sample pans, connecting cables and
calibration weights (1,4). The software prices are inclusive in the instrument prices (1,4). The
base price of TGA Q5000 IR which includes shipping (with insurance) and installation is
$68,000 and that of TGA 4000 is $42,100 (1,4). So, TGA Q5000IR receives a rating of
acceptable, whereas TGA 4000 receives a rating of good.
The $25,000 difference in the prices can be attributed to the features that are offered by
TGA Q5000 IR such as ballistic heating, touch-screen display screen and electromagnetic coil
for calibration (2,12,13). The different specifications of both TGAs also lead to the price
difference but this does not necessarily mean that TGA 4000 is inferior. It boasts impressive
capabilities which are sufficient for being used in the rubber industry but may or may not meet
Goodyear's needs.
Both the TGA models come with 1 year warranty from the date of installation which
covers manufacturing defects (1,4). This type of warranty is very common among testing
instruments and is sufficient for Goodyear. There is no option of extended warranty.

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Part 2: Training
Definition:
In this study, training is defined as the basic as well as advanced knowledge regarding the
instrument provided by the instrument manufacturer. It can be on-site or off-site and includes
start-up, maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration instructions. Training on the new TGA is
beneficial for the R&D department of Goodyear so that the operators can make efficient use of
the new TGA. It will enhance their skills for using the new software, test method development
and troubleshooting problems. It will also help new employees at Goodyear to get to learn about
the new TGA and its operation directly from the TGA manufacturer.
As both manufacturing companies of the TGA models being compared offer different
types of courses and methods of delivery, this section does not lend itself to a formal rating scale.
So, the comparison section will go over the differences and make a decision as to which
instrument manufacturer provides a better training program.
Comparison:
The manufacturers of both TGAs offer free start-up demo and training (calibration and
maintenance) during installation to the operator (1,4,8). For further detailed training, both
companies offer various training courses. Each course provides specific information and
instructions related to all the TGA models currently being sold by the company that provides the
course (8,14).
TA Instruments offers two training courses (8). First one is TGA Theory and
Applications which is a one-day lecture-based course and covers theory of operation,
instrumentation, experimental parameters, software operation, calibration, maintenance and
troubleshooting. The second course is TGA Hands-on Training which is a two-day course based
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entirely in the lab and involves working on instruments, running samples and analyzing data. It
also includes calibration and maintenance.
Perkin Elmer offers a 2-day course - Introduction to TGA which includes both lecture
and at least 3 hours lab session on calibration and sample analysis (14). The lecture covers
similar topic as covered in the TGA Theory and Applications by TA Instruments with the
difference being that the course is suited to TGAs manufactured by Perkin Elmer. Perkin Elmer
also offers customized training solutions at the customer's facility if required (14). TA
Instruments only offers the off-site training courses as discussed above. There is not much
difference in the contents covered by both companies, but the two-day lab session offered by TA
Instruments definitely has an edge over Perkin Elmer's offerings including the on-site
customized training. A lab learning experience is always better than a class-room lecture.
Moreover, a group learning experience gives an opportunity to interact with other people in the
same field, and share knowledge or discuss problems.
TA Instruments' TGA Theory and Applications costs $850; and TGA Hands-on Training
costs $2250 making a total of $3100 for both courses (8). Perkin Elmer's Introduction to TGA
costs $1325 (14). TA Instruments offers the two courses in New Castle, DE and Perkin Elmer
offers the course in Chicago, IL (8,14). Both locations are about 6 hours away from Goodyear's
R&D Department in Akron, OH. Although TA Instruments does not offer on-site customized
training and its two-course package is expensive than the course offered by Perkin Elmer, the
courses offered by TA Instruments are better in terms of time taken for delivery and
effectiveness making it worth to spend the extra money.


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Part 3: Features
Definition:
In this study, Features refer to the standard features that are built-in or come with each
TGA and are included in the base price. Features are essential for Goodyear as they would help
in determining which TGA would be more suitable and flexible for their needs. Some features
can be an added advantage and make the instrument more user-friendly.
A weighted point system would be used for evaluating the features of both instruments.
Each feature will be assigned a point based on its importance to Goodyear. The most important
features would receive a point rating of 5, least important features would receive a point rating of
1 and features in between would receive a point rating of 3. A total point rating of 0-16 would
receive a rating of acceptable and a total point rating of 17-27 would receive a rating of good.
Comparison:
The table below shows the features of TGA Q5000 IR and TGA 4000 along with the
point ratings.
Features Points Worth TGA Q5000 IR TGA 4000
Hangdown pan 3 3 0
Top-loading pan 5 0 5
Digital display screen 3 3 0
Autosampler - 45 samples 5 0 5
Autosampler - 25 samples 3 3 0
Hi-Res TGA
TM
5 5 0
Modulated TGA
TM
3 3 0
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Automated temperature
calibration
3 3 0
Compactness 3 0 3
Total 20 13
Rating Good Acceptable
Table B.1: Features (2,10,12,13)
Q5000 IR offers more features than TGA 4000 which lead to Q5000 IR getting a good
rating. Both TGAs have different types of pans. TGA 4000 uses a top-loading pan which is
easier for manual loading of samples and offers a more robust design with no moving parts (11).
It leads to less maintenance and repair costs. Q5000 IR uses a hangdown pan which needs more
time for manual loading and has moving parts which might need repair when faulty. So, TGA
4000 receives a better rating as it is well suited for manual operation and has less chance of
mechanical breakdown. Q5000 IR boasts a touch-screen display which can be used to operate the
TGA, modify parameters, perform calibration and see the instrument status. However, it would
require a computer to collect and analyze the data, so it is not a very important feature for
Goodyear.
Goodyear uses TGA for research as well as quality control purposes and hence runs a
large number of samples in TGA. Both the TGAs come with an autosampler, however TGA
4000 has an autosampler with space for 45 samples compared to 25 samples in Q5000 IR. So,
TGA 4000 receives a higher rating. Q5000 IR comes with Hi-Res TGA
TM
feature which is a
furnace control technology that optimizes the weight loss resolution and can help detect very
small weight changes (2,12,13). It has the ability to heat at a dynamic rate and continuously
change the heating rate as a function of weight loss unlike the linear heating rate in TGA 4000.
This feature increases the sensitivity of Q5000 IR to detect presence of additives present in the
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polymer (rubber) in small quantities and is very important for Goodyear's research and reverse
engineering.
Q5000 IR has another feature called Modulated TGA which allows it to apply a
sinusoidal temperature wave to the sample to calculate activation energy in relation to time and
temperature all throughout the experiment (2,12,13). This feature can be useful for Goodyear in
determining activation energy to calculate tire cure times. There are other methods of tire cure
time calculation and hence this feature is not very important for Goodyear. Q5000 IR comes with
an integrated electromagnetic coil which aids in automatic temperature calibration by creating a
magnetic field (13). TGA 4000 requires a permanent magnet to be placed above the sample pan
for calibration (10,11). The automatic temperature calibration feature offers more consistency
and is of medium importance to Goodyear.
Compactness refers to the weight and dimensions of the TGA. TGA 4000 has dimensions
6.7 in x 15 in x 16.5 in (L x W x H) and weighs 18 kgs (10). Q5000 IR has dimensions 22 in x
18.5 in x 24 in and weighs 38 kgs (12). Goodyear would prefer a compact TGA as it would
provide more lab workspace.

ANNEX C: OPERATIONAL COSTS
Annex C is divided into three subparts: Energy costs and Service.
Part 1: Energy costs
Definition:
In this study, Energy costs include the mandatory cost of resources required to keep
running the TGA such as electricity, nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, etc. Goodyear would prefer the
TGA to perform exceptionally well, but not at the expense of costly resources. Higher
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consumption of resources would lead to a higher operating cost over the years. Electricity cost of
$0.20/hour or less will receive a rating of good; electricity cost of $0.20-0.40/hour will receive a
rating of acceptable. If cost of nitrogen gas required for balance purge is $4/hour or less, the
TGA will receive a rating of good; if the cost is $5-10/hour, the TGA will receive a rating of
acceptable.
Comparison:
The table below shows the resources required for TGA Q5000 IR and TGA 4000 along
with their costs and ratings.
Resources Cost TGA Q5000 IR TGA 4000
Electricity $0.09/kWh
1.44 kW x $0.09/kWh
= $0.13 /hour - Good
1.67 kW x $0.09/kWh
= $0.15 /hour - Good

Nitrogen gas (>99.998%
pure) for balance purge
$210/ 56 litre
cylinder
10 ml/min = 0.6 l/hour
= $2.25 /hour - Good
40 ml/min = 2.4 l/hour
= $ 9/hour - Acceptable

Total Energy cost $ 2.38 /hour $ 9.15 /hour
Rating Good Acceptable
Table C.1: Energy costs (3,6,9,12)
The electricity cost does not have a significant difference among the two TGAs. Goodyear will
be using two gases: Nitrogen and Oxygen. Nitrogen is used for its inert character and oxygen for
its reactive nature (11). The gases are controlled by a purge system which includes balance purge
(nitrogen only) and sample purge (nitrogen or oxygen). The manufacturer specifies a minimum
balance purge rate and the same has been used in the table above for comparison. The sample
purge rate and gas is set by the user depending on the type of experiment, and would be same for
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both TGAs. Hence, there is an additional cost of the gases required to conduct a TGA experiment
but would be same for both models.
Part 2: Service
Definition:
In this study, Service refers to the type of repair and replacement parts that each TGA
model would require during the course of its operation. Service is essential for the long life of
instrument. Goodyear would prefer a TGA which requires least amount of service along with
replacement parts that are not very expensive. If the total cost of all replacement parts is less than
$17,500, the TGA will receive a rating of good; if the total cost of all replacement parts is
between $17,500-25,000, the TGA will receive a rating of good.
Comparison:
The table below lists the replacement parts offered by manufacturers of both TGA
models along with the prices.
Replacement parts Price (in USD)
TGA Q5000 IR TGA 4000
Furnace 17,300 10,640
Heat exchanger 3,280 4,700
Samples hangdown wire 320 -
Sample holder - 288
Autosampler 910 870
Total cost 21,810 16,498
Rating Acceptable Good
Table C.2: Service costs (5,7,12,15)
Q5000 IR has more moving parts due to a top-loading balance and hence, has more
chances of breaking down during its lifetime. TGA 4000 does not use any moving parts except
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the autosampler. The furnace for Q5000 IR is expensive due to its complex construction and
Infra-red technology (12). Prices of other replacement parts lie in a pretty close range. Clearly,
TGA 4000 would require minimum repair and most of its spare parts cost less than the ones of
Q5000 IR. Hence, TGA 4000 would be more cost efficient in terms of service and repair for
Goodyear.













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WORKS CITED
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<www.perkinelmer.com>
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