Dupre Minerals has chosen the Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyser from Malvern Instruments to provide rapid product quality testing and to support the definition of custom products.
The sensitivity of the Mastersizer 2000 to coarse materials and the flexibility of its data reporting were key factors in the selection.
To produce quality refractories (materials that are chemically and physically stable at high temperatures), Dupre Minerals controls the rheology of its slurry-based products by mixing different grades of material.
Since this mix is also important in defining the packing fraction of the particles, it has a direct impact on the final quality of the fired material after sintering.
Particle size distribution must be known and controlled.
During Dupre's comparative testing of particle size analysers, even some of the most recently introduced laser diffraction systems fell short on sensitivity.
The Mastersizer 2000, however, reliably and rapidly resolved the percentage of coarse material added to finer product grades.
Furthermore, the Mastersizer 2000's data presentation capabilities have enabled the development of specific reports for each customer, with the final certificate of product conformance printed directly from within the software.
Malvern's support and applications knowledge were also influential in the purchasing decision.
