3P INSTRUMENTS GmbH & Co. KG

DT-1202: particle-size and zeta-potential in concentrated dispersions

Instrumentation for characterizing Particle Size, Zeta Potential, Compressibility, Bulk viscosity, Non-aqueous Conductivity, Debye length and other properties of Concentrated Dispersions, Emulsions and Porous bodies.

Dispersion Technology Inc. (DT), was established in 1996 intentionally for developing analytical instrumentation suitable for characterizing particle size distribution and zeta potential in concentrated complex liquid systems, such as pharmaceuticals, cement, ceramics, paints, emulsions, and many more. Since that time DT has designed and is currently marketing worldwide a family of such instruments that are based on ultrasound. Ultrasound turned out to become a very versatile tool yielding information on particle size and zeta potential, but variety of parameters characterizing these complex systems, such as compressibility, longitudinal viscosity, micro-viscosity, surface conductivity, electric charges of macromolecules, etc. These methods can be applied for characterizing zeta potential not only in liquid particulates but in porous bodies as well.

Operating Procedure
The user fills the sample chamber with 30 - 100 ml of sample, defines the sample in a simple dialog box, selects the desired experiment protocol, and clicks on "RUN". When the measurement is complete, the user empties the sample, and then rinses the system with water or suitable cleaning solution.

Available instruments
DT 1202: Particle size and zeta potential
DT-300/310: Zeta potential probe without/with titration
DT-100: Particle sizing
DT-500: Online Particle size and zeta potential
DT-600: Rheometer longitudinal
DT-700: Non-aqueous conductivity

Available Options
Automatic Titration with 1or 2 burettes
pH / Temperature measurement
Conductivity measurement, aqueous and non-aqueous
Circulating pump for very viscous samples
Ports for remote "on-line" measurements
Rheology longitudinal
Temperature heating control

For further information see our website.

Characterisation of stability of dispersions under original conditions

The patented TURBISCAN-principle is a standard to study the stability of original dispersions under original storage conditions. Only the TURBISCAN measures both the transmitted and the backscattered laser light of dispersion dependent on the height of the sample cell - and without any additional force which can change the complex structure of your emulsion or suspension, so that the TURBISCAN prevents the risk that the measurement will not characterize the nature of your original sample. With the TURBISCAN-principle there is a way to characterize opaque samples by interpretation of backscattered light intensities to not only detect sedimentation or creaming effects, but also coalescence of particles and droplets as a function of time.

• TURBISCAN Lab incl. Temperature regulation up to 60°C (down to +4°C as option)
• TURBISCAN CLASSIC
• TURBISCAN ONLINE for the fast and near-process-characterization of the average particle size of opaque samples
• TURBISCAN AGS: Multisampler for max. 54 samples

The TURBISCAN-principle is standard for many industries to characterize the stability or the instability behaviour of liquid dispersions. Liquid dispersions can be liquid/liquid (Emulsion), liquid/solid (Suspension) or liquid/gas (Foam) systems.

The mission of the manufacturer FORMULACTION is to provide the best solutions to characterize concentrated dispersions (emulsions, suspensions and foams), in terms of stability and microrheology, for different application fields like Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, Food, Petroleum, Electronic…

The instruments range uses innovative optical measurement based on Multiple-Light-Scattering. FORMULACTION has developed patented technologies to characterize concentrated dispersions without sample preparation (no dilution, non intrusive method).

Today FORMULACTION offers two ranges of products

• Stability analysis of concentrated dispersions
• Microrheology analysis of soft materials

FORMULACTION technologies cross link Particle Characterization and Rheology analysis.

For further information see our website.

Although the macroscopic properties of powders are decisive for their evaluation and the quantification of these properties is essential for the production, processing and packaging of powders as well as for the transport, storage and application, at this time there are only few possibilities to quantify these parameters. Most instruments have insufficient accuracy and reproducibility and can therefore only be used to a limited extent for a specific powder engineering.

The PowderPro A1 allows a comprehensive, fast and accurate characterization of powders with respect to macroscopic powder properties. This new type of physical test device combines many advanced technologies such as computer or tablet computer-based controlling via Wi-Fi connection, fully automatic digital image processing technology or a 3D electromagnetic material processing. With the PowderPro A1, 13 parameters of metallic and non-metallic powder samples can be determined according to ASTM D6393: Carr Angle of Repose, Carr Angle of Fall, Carr Angle of Difference, Carr Angle of Spatula, Carr Packed Bulk Density, Carr Loose Bulk Density, Carr Compressibility, Carr Dispersibility, Carr Uniformity and Carr Cohesion, Voidage as well as Flowability and Floodability indices..

The Powder Pro A1 is therefore an indispensable tool for the understanding and investigation of powder materials.

Specification/features/advantages

• angle measurements using a CCD camera and image processing routine
• fully automatic computer or tablet computer controlling (tablet computer is included in the delivery) guarantees easy handling and use
• Standardized operating procedures (SOPs) ensure highly accurate and reproducible results
• direct data communication via connection to electronic balance
• new technology for the measurement of the Packed Bulk Density for a smooth powder surface and thus higher accuracy
• freely selectable vibration frequencies between 50 to 300 min-1 at two different amplitudes (tapping heights, 3 or 14 mm) for the determination of the Packed Bulk Density
• comprehensive accessory set included in delivery
• compliant with ASTM D6393-14, USP32-NF27<616>, EP7.0 07/2010:20934 and ISO 3953

The 3P surface DX is a fully automated gas sorption analyzer with four parallel operating analysis stations for rapid BET surface area determination. The instrument operates without a vacuum system but works with the dynamic principle (flow method). Both Single- and Multipoint-BET measurements can be carried out reliably and in very short times suitable for production and quality control. Use of reference comparison methods keeps the detection time of adsorption peaks extremely short.

Specifications/Features/Benefits

• 4 parallel operating analysis stations
• fully automated real-time determination of the specific surface area
• Single- and Multipoint-BET measurements
• dynamic adsorption measurements
• besides Nitrogen, analysis is possible with other gases
• Reference comparison method for very short analysis times
• automatic adaptation to the vapor saturation pressure of Nitrogen
• automatic determination of equilibrium conditions
• automatic zeroing of thermal conductivity detector (TCD)

With its unique and innovative design, the Bettersizer S3 Plus combines the measurement methods of static light scattering and dynamic image analysis, thus offering a universal option for characterizing size and shape of particles from the nanometer to the millimeter range.

Using the patented DLOIS technology, even nanoparticles (from 10 nm onward) can reliably be characterized. The additional lens between the laser and the measurement chamber enables the detection of the backscattered light. The use of only one laser with oblique incidence of light provides a continuous scattering spectrum with consistent wavelength and allows the detection in a continuous angle range up to 165°.

Since the maximal intensity of the scattered light of large particles can only be detected at very small angles, the classical static light scattering cannot analyze those particles sufficient enough. The image analysis system of the Bettersizer S3 Plus enables, in contrast to other laser diffraction systems, the reliable detection of larger particles thanks to particle detection by camera and thus allows realistic measurements up to 3.5 mm.

Thanks to the implemented dynamic image analysis, the most important shape parameters can be calculated from the individual particle images – aspect ratio, circularity, sharpness of edges, and others.

The shape analysis can be carried out simultaneously with the size analysis or independently. Thereby you can choose between two magnifications for image collection (0.5x and 10x).

Specifications/Features/Advantages

• particle measurement range: 0.01 – 3500 µm
• integrated CCD camera (0.5x) for the (optionally) significantly more precise detection of coarse particles up to5 mm, especially of oversized particles, compared to “plain” static light scattering.
• a second integrated CCD camera (10x) for the additional analysis of particle shape from a size of around 5 um.
• innovative double lens technology (DLOIS) with an extremely wide detection angle range (0.02° – 165°) and detection in the backscattering direction for reliable measurement of even very small particles (> 10 nm)
• single laser technology and thus consistent laser wavelength (532 nm) for all evaluations
• short measurement time of less than one minute
• determination of the refractive index
• Standard operation procedures (SOP)
• automated dispersion and circulation system
• automatic centering function of the optics before each measurement
• accurate calibration function
• easy operation and intuitive software interface
• export of the results in multiple formats such as PDF, .txt, .jpg with software flexibility for the creation of result reports and archiving of the measurement data.
• 600 ml standard bath volume
• compliant with ISO 13320 and 21 CFR-Part11