Ability to measure particle size at temperatures up to 120C is particularly applicable for the size measurement of polymers, printing inks and liquid toners
A new option for Malvern's Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation systems enables users to measure particle size at temperatures of up to 120C, extending the range from the standard 90C.
This option is available for all new Zetasizer Nano systems whose specifications include size measurement, and a factory upgrade can be applied to existing systems.
Measurements at high temperatures are especially applicable to the polymer, printing ink and toner industries.
Measuring the size of a polymer dispersion at close to the melting point of the polymer can provide important information about phase, shape or conformation changes.
This can be used in research for characterising the polymer dispersion and designing manufacturing processes for polymers with melting points above 90C.
In the printing industry, pigments can be formulated in a wax base with a melting point of 110C.
Particle size analysis using dynamic light scattering requires that the sample be a liquid, so the system must have the capability of measuring at temperatures above this melting point.
For liquid toners, measurement at high temperatures is desirable to both reduce the viscosity of the toner - as it improves the measurement, which relies on the diffusion of particles undergoing Brownian motion - and also to mimic the high temperatures to which toners are subjected when stored in a printer.
There are no special measurement requirements or external hardware associated with the new high temperature option, and all other specifications of the standard Zetasizer Nano system remain unchanged.
Temperature equilibration is fast, thanks to a highly insulated low thermal mass cell compartment, and temperature ramps can be automated from 2 to 120.
The Malvern Zetasizer Nano series uses patented technologies to deliver particle size measurement in the range 0.6 to 6000nm and measure the zeta potential of particles from 5nm to 10mm in diameter.
It has the sensitivity required for the measurement of highly dilute proteins and polymers as well as the ability to analyse emulsions at high concentrations, says Malvern.
All measurement routines are highly automated and an optional unit, the MPT-2 autotitrator, is available to simplify the systematic study of size and zeta potential as a function of variables such as pH, conductivity or additive concentration.
