Thermogravimetry (TGA) is used in the RMI to determine the solid content, the organic content and the carbonate (filler) content. TGA is an analytical method measuring the change in mass of a sample (mainly coating material) as a function of temperature and time. From this, conclusions can be drawn about the composition of the coating material.

For this purpose, the sample is heated in a small, fireclay crucible made of inert material in an oven to temperatures of up to 1600 °C.

The sample holder is connected to a high-sensitivity, high-speed sensor. The sample holder is coupled to a highly sensitive balance, which registers the changes in mass during the heating process. By using an autosampler, sample feeding is automated and a high sample throughput is ensured.