The Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) method is an official method of moisture content determination. It is designed to measure the moisture content of a material by analyzing the thermal properties of the material as it is heated. The DTA method is based on the principle that the specific heat of a material changes as its moisture content changes.
When a material is heated, the heat is absorbed by the material and used to increase its temperature. The specific heat of a material is the amount of heat that is required to raise the temperature of one gram of the material by one degree Celsius. The specific heat of a material is affected by its moisture content, as water has a higher specific heat than most other materials.
In the DTA method, a small sample of the material is placed in a crucible and heated at a controlled rate. A reference material, such as dry sand, is also placed in a crucible and heated at the same rate. The temperature of the sample and the reference material are measured as they are heated. The difference in temperature between the sample and the reference material is plotted against the temperature of the sample. The resulting plot is called a DTA curve.
The DTA curve can be used to determine the moisture content of the sample. The peak in the DTA curve corresponds to the temperature at which the moisture in the sample evaporates. The area under the peak is proportional to the amount of moisture in the sample.
The DTA method is a reliable and accurate method of moisture content determination. It is used in a variety of applications, including: