Orton manufactures a wide range of thermoanalytical instruments that measure the physical properties of ceramic, glass, metal, polymer, elastomer, and composite materials at a variety of temperatures. Orton Thermoanalytical Instruments are designed specifically for glass, whitewares, structural clay, refractories, technical ceramics, investment casting bodies, electronic ceramics, electrical ceramics, and advanced ceramics. Orton Thermoanalytical Instruments are also used with medical and dental materials, metals, composites, elastomers, and plastics.

Orton Thermoanalytical Instruments are used for R&D analysis, QC testing, firing cycle development, raw material batch determinations, raw material analysis, glaze and body fit determinations, finished good product properties and characteristics, and production problem analysis.

• Thermodilatometric Analysis (TDA):

TDA measures the thermal expansion or shrinkage characteristics of a material over a range of temperatures. The instrument to perform this measurement is called a dilatometer, and measures the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE), for specific temperature ranges.

• Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA):

DTA measures the energies of chemical reactions (endothermic and exothermic) and phase changes that occur over a range of temperatures. The DTA instrument generates a curve that is a fingerprint of what the material experiences over the test temperature range.

• Simultaneous DTA/TGA (STA):

STA is a powerful thermoanalytical technique that combines the DTA and TGA into one test on an instrument that is a combination of a DTA and TGA. The DTA and TGA are performed on the same sample simultaneously over a range of temperatures. Both the DTA and TGA results are plotted on the same graph for comparative analysis.

• Gradient Furnace (GTF):

The Orton Gradient Furnace is a special horizontal tube furnace that generates a known and controlled thermal gradient over a 12” or 16” span. A single sample, a series of samples, or granular materials are subjected to a known, controlled range of temperatures to observe and measure the effects of temperature on a material in a single firing.

• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA):

TGA measures the weight loss or weight gain of a material over a range of temperatures. The TGA instrument generates a curve showing the amount of weight loss or gain at various temperatures during the test.

• Refractory Testing Systems:

Orton has modified standard thermal analysis instruments to accommodate the large grain sizes of refractory bodies. Orton vertical dilatometers and CREEP (RUL) furnaces are designed for large refractory samples. Orton also manufactures large sample TGA's for refractory bodies.

• Special Systems and Tube Furnaces:

Orton manufactures thermoanalytical instruments and special furnaces that are not supplied by other manufacturers. Orton will modify an existing design, or custom design a system to meet you specific application requirements. Past systems include PCE Kilns, zone refining systems, Video Camera Tube Furnaces, and others. Orton will also manufacture small, lab size kilns and tube furnaces (horizontal and vertical) for special R&D and QC projects. Contact for more information.