Actions:

#01. Record the tare weight and initial mass of the sample
#02. Placement of the crucible in a muffle furnace (2 hours at 600 °C)
#03. Pre-conditioning the desiccator
#04. Post-calcination sample retrieval
#05. Sample placement in the desiccator (approx. 10 min)
#06. Creation of a vacuum environment
#07. Measurement of the solid content & data analysis

Determining the solid content of a suspension is essential for its characterization and for ensuring product quality control. To accurately quantify the amount of solid present in a suspension, it is necessary to completely remove the liquid phase. One of the effective way to achieve this is through a calcination process, which allows for the removal of water and volatile components by means of high-temperature heating.

Operating procedure

• Initial weighing: measure the total weight of the suspension, including both the liquid and solid phases.

• Sample preparation: pour the suspension into a ceramic crucible, selecting the appropriate size according to the amount of material to be analyzed.

• Thermal treatment: place the crucible inside a muffle furnace, capable of reaching temperatures exceeding 1000 °C. Unlike a conventional drying oven, the muffle furnace allows simulation of real ceramic firing conditions. During this process, phase transformations of the solid material may occur, potentially affecting the final result.It is therefore important to understand the nature of the solid in order to anticipate possible structural changes during heating or calcination.

• Final drying: after calcination, place the sample in a desiccator, a container equipped with hygroscopic salts that maintain a dry environment. This step prevents the sample from reabsorbing moisture, ensuring an accurate final weighing. If the calcined sample absorbs humidity again, the final weight will be inaccurate, as it would include an unquantifiable water fraction. Proper use of the desiccator is therefore essential to obtain a reliable measurement of the actual solid content.