The combination of a TGA with a GC/MS is becoming increasingly popular. When you heat a sample on the TGA it causes gases to be released. These gases are then transferred to the GC where the components can be collected. The sample can then be run by GC to separate the material and the peaks identified by the MS. Because of its ability to detect very low levels of material in complex mixtures, the TG-GC/MS is a powerful tool for quality control, safety, and product development.