Coiled quartz radiator design offers a fast light-up, just like halogen, but provides more homogenous heat distribution for more consistent results
Sartorius has introduced five new models to its MA45 moisture analyser series, giving users even more options for moisture analysis in the laboratory.
The popular MA45 is now available with a CQR (coiled quartz radiator), a single heating tube rolled spirally and embedded in a heat-conducting mass.
For many users, a heat source that lights up right at the start of heating is highly important for rapid sample heating and fast analysis times.
While it's true that halogen radiators heat very rapidly thanks to their very low mass, it is also true that circular halogen heating elements like those currently used in all halogen moisture analysers can dry samples very unevenly.
The temperature under the halogen tube is much higher than in the centre or edges of the pan.
Although the sample may dry optimally right under the halogen tube, moisture can still remain in the center of the sample.
If you let the drying routine continue, the middle of the sample dries sufficiently, but the sample under the halogen tube can scorch.
Thus, halogen heaters do not offer the ideal form of sample drying.
The analysis times are unnecessarily long, the reproducibility is often inadequate - in other words, the halogen radiator is obsolete technology.
Quartz heaters have been used in moisture analysers before, but in a linear arrangement, which again could cause uneven heating.
The CQR radiator creates a large area with homogenous heat distribution. It heats up as fast as a halogen heater, thus shortening analysis times and offering excellent repeatability of results.
Alongside the introduction of the CQR heater, Sartorius has also developed a 145g capacity version of the MA45, ideal for high-density applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and building materials industries.
The new CQR and 145g versions of the MA45 are now available from Sartorius, alongside the popular ceramic element models.