Workstation, stereomicroscope, microtome, and digital camera aid laboratory's research and analysis of carbon black dispersion in plastics
The Sevalco plant in Bristol, one of the carbon black plants within Columbian Chemicals, recently turned to Leica Microsystems to help it find a way to analyse carbon black dispersion in plastics.
Silke Kite, a chemist in the Industrial Applications Laboratory, explained: "Our laboratory carries out both research and consultancy work on the purity and applications of carbon black.
Last year we needed to develop a test to analyse its dispersion in plastics as the test used for rubber was not suitable.
With rubber, the freshly cut surface can be analysed with a diamond showing the carbon black trapped inside.
The same test cannot be applied to plastic because it is too stiff." Silke continued: "We went directly to Leica and Matthew Harbin suggested we visit the laboratories in Milton Keynes and use the equipment there to find a solution.
This we did with great success and purchased a Materials Workstation, a Leica MZ12.5 stereomicroscope, a Leica RM 2165 microtome and a Leica DC 300 digital camera.
Leica was even flexible enough to adapt the instruments to our exact requirements.
The new equipment has helped us a great deal and we can now do so much more than before."
