Applications of Zirconia Crucibles in Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) & DTA DSC
                     Applications of Zirconia 
Crucibles in 
Thermogravimetric 
Analysis (TGA) & 
DTA/DSC
Submitted By:
M-Kube Enterprise LLC
Why Zirconia 
Crucibles Matter in 
Thermal Analysis
• Zirconia crucible (ZrO₂) offers 
exceptional thermal stability up to 
2000°C.
• Ultra-low reactivity ensures accurate 
data in TGA, DTA, and DSC 
measurements.
• High density and thermal shock 
resistance enable stable mass-change 
and heat-flow measurements.
• Suitable for materials that react with 
alumina or silica at high 
temperatures.
Properties That Make Zirconia Ideal 
for TGA & DTA/DSC
• High melting point (~2700°C)
• Chemical inertness toward metals, ceramics, catalysts, 
carbides
• Very low thermal conductivity → stable baseline for 
calorimetric analysis
• Excellent thermal shock resistance
• Dense microstructure reduces sample-container reactions
• Compatible with aggressive atmospheres & redox cycling
These advantages make zirconia oxide crucible the preferred 
choice for critical thermal analysis applications.
Crucible Types Used in Thermal 
Analysis
Open zirconia crucible
• Allows oxidative/reductive gas access
• Ideal for TGA measurements requiring free gas exchange
Zirconia crucible with lid
• Controls volatilization
• Useful in DTA/DSC tests involving slow reaction kinetics or volatile 
precursors
Shallow-form crucibles
• Fast thermal response in DSC
Deep-form zirconia oxide crucible
• Higher sample volume, used in TGA kinetic studies
Role of Zirconia Crucibles in TGA 
Measurements
In Thermogravimetric Analysis:
• Allows safe testing of metals, oxides, catalysts, polymers & carbons up to 
extreme temperatures.
• No mass drift from container degradation → stable baseline.
• Prevents unwanted reactions that can mask decomposition steps.
• Supports high-temperature oxidative stability testing (>1000°C).
Typical applications:
• Thermal stability of high-temperature ceramics
• Metal oxidation/corrosion behavior
• Binder burn-out & polymer decomposition
• Carbon burn-off studies
• Catalyst activation/inactivation studies
TGA Mass Loss Profiles Enhanced by 
Zirconia Crucibles
• Maintains crucible integrity even during multi-stage 
decomposition.
• Low interaction with sample ensures that mass loss 
corresponds ONLY to sample, not container.
• Stable geometry avoids thermal drift and buoyancy 
errors.
• High-density walls minimize micro-spalling at 
temperature ramp rates up to 100°C/min.
Applications in DTA (Differential 
Thermal Analysis)
• Zirconia crucible ensures accurate endothermic and 
exothermic peak detection.
• High thermal mass enables stable reference baseline.
• Ideal for:
• Crystallization studies
• Phase transformation analysis
• Oxidation/reduction thermochemistry
• High-temperature mineralogical reactions
Its inert surface prevents alteration of sensitive phase-change 
materials.
Applications in DSC (Differential 
Scanning Calorimetry)
• Zirconia’s stability and uniform heating profile enhance 
calorimetric accuracy.
• Suitable for:
-Glass transition studies
-Melting point measurements
-Solid–solid transitions
-Reaction enthalpy measurements
• Minimizes background heat-flow drift due to its low 
thermal expansion mismatch with DSC sensors.
Atmosphere Compatibility for TGA & 
DSC
Zirconia crucibles support:
• Oxidizing atmospheres
• Inert atmospheres (Ar, N₂)
• Reducing atmospheres (H₂, CO)
• Vacuum systems
• Halogenated and sulfur-rich environments
• Carburizing conditions
Ensures consistent results across multi-atmosphere 
thermal programs.
Sample Types That Require Zirconia 
Crucibles
• High-temperature oxides
• Metal powders (superalloys, refractory metals)
• Ceramic precursors
• Catalysts and catalyst supports
• Battery materials (NMC, LFP, LCO)
• Glass and slag analyses
• Carbon composites
• Carbides and nitrides
ZrO₂ eliminates contamination pathways common in alumina 
crucibles.
Why Zirconia Crucibles Outperform 
Alumina or Quartz in TGA
• Thus zirconia crucibles for sale are preferred for 
advanced or aggressive TGA/DTA/DSC applications.
Property Zirconia Alumina Quartz
Max temp Very High High Limited
Thermal shock Excellent Good Poor
resistance
Chemical inertness Superior Moderate Low
Reaction with metals Very low Moderate High
Suitability for extreme High Medium Poor
redox cycling
Geometry Selection for TGA, DTA & 
DSC
• Flat-bottom crucibles:
-Best thermal contact in DSC sensors
• Round-bottom crucibles:
-Better convection flow in TGA
• Deep-form crucibles:
-Larger sample mass for kinetic analysis
• Lidded crucibles:
-Controls volatile evaporation
-Slows down oxidation rates
-Critical for organic materials
-Choosing proper geometry enhances accuracy and improves heating 
homogeneity.
Best Practices in Using Zirconia 
Crucibles for Thermal Analysis
• Pre-calcine empty crucible to eliminate absorbed moisture.
• Avoid sudden heating above 800–1000°C to prevent 
thermal shock.
• Use matching zirconia lids for controlled-atmosphere 
reactions.
• Clean with non-reactive agents; avoid HF or strong reducing 
acids.
• Handle with ceramic tweezers, not metal tools.
• Rotate crucibles between tests to reduce micro-crack 
formation.
What to Expect from a Reliable 
Zirconia Crucibles Supplier
A trustworthy zirconia crucibles supplier should provide:
• High-purity ZrO₂ purity certificates
• Dimensional accuracy (±0.1–0.2 mm)
• Consistent porosity levels
• Thermal shock test data
• Compatibility notes for various TGA/DSC instruments
• Options for zirconia crucible with lid
• Availability of custom geometries
Working with dependable zirconia crucible suppliers ensures 
measurement consistency.
Common Failure Modes in 
TGA/DTA/DSC Crucibles & How 
Zirconia Prevents Them
• Reaction with sample → avoided due to inert ZrO₂
• Cracking due to thermal shock → minimized by high 
fracture toughness
• Baseline shift due to container degradation → 
zirconia maintains structural stability
• Sample contamination → ZrO₂ surface is non-wetting 
and chemically neutral
• Micro-spalling at high ramp rates → zirconia resists 
grain-boundary weakening
Matching Crucible to Instrument 
Type
• TGA Instruments:
-Deep, open-form zirconia oxide crucible
• DTA Instruments:
-Symmetrical crucible dimensions improve reference pairing
• DSC Instruments:
-Flat-bottom precision zirconia cups
-Lidded crucibles for volatile or reactive samples
-Geometry must match sensor shape for accurate heat-flow and 
mass-flow measurements.
Conclusion
• Zirconia crucibles provide unmatched thermal stability, inertness, 
and precision for high-temperature TGA, DTA, and DSC testing.
• Their ability to resist reactions, thermal shock, and sensor 
contamination makes them essential for advanced materials 
research.
• Choosing high-purity crucibles from reputable zirconia crucible 
suppliers ensures consistent, reproducible thermal analysis 
outcomes.
• For labs handling high-temperature, reactive, or multi-
atmosphere testing, zirconia remains the most reliable crucible 
material available.