QMS spectrometer QMS 505 Aëolos®

MSquadrupolefor evolved gas analysis (EGA)

Product overview
The QMS 505 Aëolos® is a compact quadrupole mass spectrometer engineered for high-sensitivity gas detection when coupled to thermoanalytical instruments (TGA, STA, DSC, DIL). It integrates a heated capillary inlet and a single-step pressure reduction to minimize condensation and sample loss during transfer. Operation and acquisition are combined in a single Proteus® software environment for unified control of the thermal analyzer and QMS.

Key features — Capillary coupling and transfer

• Single-step pressure reduction (no orifice) enabling loss-free transfer from ambient/analysis pressure to QMS vacuum.
• Continuous heating of adapter and transfer line to minimize cold spots (adapter up to 400°C; transfer line up to 350°C).
• Heated chamber for easy handling and precise alignment of the quartz-glass capillary inlet.
• Flexible coupling for standard thermoanalytical setups and hyphenations (TGA-DSC-MS-GC-MS, TGA-DSC-MS-FT-IR).
• Robust, service-friendly construction with μg-range sensitivity for mass-loss detection.
• Compatible with TGA-MS measurements under humid atmospheres.

Key features — Analyzer and detection

• Hyperbolic quadrupole with pre-filter to improve transmission at high masses and sensitivity at low masses (e.g., H2, He).
• Secondary electron multiplier (SEM) with discrete dynodes plus integrated Faraday cup for extended dynamic range and long lifetime.
• Measuring modes: analog scan, bargraph/analog display, multiple ion detection (MID).
• 3‑D presentation of MS and thermal analysis data for combined visualization.

Heated transfer system and pressure management
The heated transfer path and single-step pressure reduction effectively prevent condensation of decomposition products, improving quantitative detection across identified gas components. The capillary inlet allows sampling of gas sources independently of the thermoanalytical instrument.

Design philosophy for NETZSCH thermal analyzers
NETZSCH analyzers and QMS coupling have been optimized to minimize gas loss by design (furnace outlet → adapter → capillary → QMS inlet). Very low carrier gas flows suffice for complete transfer and minimal dilution of volatile products, enhancing detection sensitivity in routine TGA/STA/DIL‑QMS analyses.

Application areas

• Decomposition / pyrolysis: dehydration, stability testing, residual solvent analysis, pyrolysis studies.
• Solid–gas reactions: adsorption/desorption, catalysis, corrosion, combustion/oxidation processes.
• Composition analysis: polymer composition, binder burn‑out, dewaxing, ash (inorganic residue) determination.
• Evaporation / volatility: vapor pressure and sublimation behaviour of components.

Software and data evaluation
Proteus® single‑software solution controls both the thermal analyzer and the QMS. Key functions include:

• Definition of thermal programs (temperature ramps, heating rates) and MS parameters (mass ranges, scan modes, MID, analog/bargraph scans).
• Simultaneous start/stop and unified measurement control for hyphenated setups.
• 3‑D visualization combining spectra with temperature, TGA and DSC curves and single mass traces; peak detection and color mapping.
• Spectra export in NIST format for library-based identification.

Accessories and special techniques
The system supports coupling extensions and specialized methods such as the Pulse TA technique for controlled gas pulse injection into the purge gas for quantitative calibration or reactive/adsorption studies (inert gas calibrations, hydrogen pulses for reduction, ammonia pulses for adsorption experiments, etc.).

Technical specifications

• Model: QMS 505 Aëolos® (quadrupole QMS coupling)
• Mass range: 1 u to 300 u (optionally up to 512 u); autotuning available.
• Ion source: crossed‑beam electron ionization (EI).
• Detector: SEM with discrete dynodes and integrated Faraday cup (high dynamic range).
• Capillary inlet: quartz‑glass capillary (standard, max. 300°C); optional stainless steel capillary (max. 350°C). Supplied with exchangeable coil.
• Interface / transfer line temperature: typically up to 300°C (optionally 350°C); adapter heating up to 400°C available.
• Pressure reduction: single‑step (e.g., ~10^3 mbar to ~5×10^-6 mbar) without orifice.
• Vacuum options: two vacuum system variants; temperature‑controlled option available.
• Coupling compatibility: direct coupling to DSC, TGA, STA and DIL; supports GC‑MS and FT‑IR combinations.
• Operational highlights: minimized cold spots, low carrier gas flow requirements, humidity‑capable TGA‑MS, μg‑range sensitivity.