Title: Modifications to the Distributed Activation Energy Model To Enhance Thermogravimetric Analysis of Carbon Nanomaterials

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) remains one of the most reliable and widely used techniques for carbon nanomaterial quality control and process development.  The Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM), widely used in combustion studies of carbonaceous materials, provides a useful framework for interpreting the TGA results.  One can extract identifying features such as the mean activation energy as well as how the activation energies are distributed statistically, an insightful measurement of surface homogeneity.

Here we modify the DAEM by replacing the Arrhenius kinetic equation with the Eyring-Polanyi model.    This provides much greater thermodynamic information about the nanomaterial’s surface than just the DAEM.  By introducing reasonable limits based on known properties of the materials, the DAEM can be reduced to a relatively simple numerical approximation.  The results from actual carbon nanomaterials are presented, including comparison/contrast between traditional analysis and the new model.

Mark Banash is President and Chief Scientist at Neotericon LLC, a consultancy specializing in nanoscience, nanomaterials, and nanotechnology. He was VP-Chief Scientist at Nanocomp Technologies (now Huntsman Chemicals) where he was responsible for the fundamental science of how Nanocomp made their carbon nanomaterial-based sheet and yarns as well as identifying and proving the links between their unique nanoscale features and the performance of end products. Prior to Nanocomp, he was the Director for Production and Quality for Zyvex Corporation, where he managed manufacturing operations and initiated the industry’s first supply chain certification process to qualify carbon nanotubes. He holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Princeton University, an MBA from the University of Maryland University College, and a B.A. with honors in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the International Standards Organization (ISO) U.S. Technical Advisory Group on the measurement of nanomaterials and has worked closely with NIOSH in their efforts to develop and deploy nanomaterial health and safety programs.

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At Neotericon we deal with all things nanoscale, from the materials and the tools and processes used to make them up to the products in which they are used. We cover every aspect of nanotechnology: the fundamental science and engineering, quality control and finished product testing, and even product liability and regulatory issues. We can also connect with subject matter experts in research, process development, operation management, the law, and environmental and health testing.