Conical TGA Crucible for Stable Sample Center of Mass

The patent applies a curved base surface (spheroidal or conical geometry) to the crucible instead of a flat base. This curvature causes the material to self-center during thermal analysis, preventing center of mass shifts that would otherwise cause erroneous mass loss readings. The curved surface geometry actively guides the material to maintain consistent positioning without requiring additional mechanical constraints.

The conical or spheroidal base geometry is manufactured as an integrated feature of the crucible body, utilizing standard forming processes for ceramic or metal crucibles. The holding feature is incorporated into the curved surface design, allowing the complex geometry to be produced in a single manufacturing step rather than requiring assembly of multiple components, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving sample position stability.

The curved base surface is designed with optimized radius and curvature parameters that achieve material self-centering while minimizing volume displacement. The conical or spheroidal geometry concentrates the medializing effect at the base where material accumulation occurs, while the upper crucible volume remains maximized for sample loading. This allows adequate interior volume to be maintained while achieving the precision benefits of material positioning.