Author: matt.williams

INTRODUCTION

Working under corrosive atmospheres in a STA (TGA with DTA or DSC rod) with corrosive atmospheres is extremely challenging because the detectors are made from metallic parts. The different experiments where there is a risk of deterioration or corrosion is as followed:

  emission of aggressive vapours coming from the sample decomposition

  investigation in an oxidative or reducing gas

  investigation in corrosive gas

MATERIALS COMPATIBILITY

In the TG-DTA and TG-DSC modes, the detectors suspended to the balance are made of different metals according to the temperature range (platinel, platinum rhodium, tungsten rhenium …). The crucibles used with the different detectors are made in aluminium, platinum, tungsten, graphite (figure 1). Special crucibles in zirconia, boron nitride can also be adapted.

The materials compatibility for the TG-DTA and TG-DSC rods is very similar to the description done in Technical Note 679.  In the case of emission of agressive gas from the sample decomposition, each material has different limitations :

PLATINIUM, as a metal, is very sensitive to different types of gases and vapours.

  Metallic vapour

It is recommended to consider the corresponding phase diagram of Pt with the metal from the emitted vapour and check if there is a risk of eutectic formation. In case of low emission of vapour, one way to prevent direct contact between the crucible and the metallic vapour, is to have the sample embedded in alumina powder.
Another trick: with SiO2 work under air or oxygen to prevent the dissociation of the silicon oxide

  Hydrogen

Platinum is also very sensitive to hydrogen above 1000°C

  Other gases

Platinum is also stable in CO2. But it will react with CO, SO2, H2S, chlorine. In general, platinum is not recommended to be used in reducing atmospheres.

ALUMINA, as a ceramic oxide, is highly suited for applications at high temperature (up to 1750°C) under inert and oxidising but has some limitations in reducing atmospheres.

  Metallic vapour

It is recommended to consider the corresponding phase diagram of Pt with the metal from the emitted vapour and check if there is a risk of eutectic formation. In case of low emission of vapour, one way to prevent direct contact between the crucible and the metallic vapour, is to have the sample embedded in alumina powder.
Another trick: with SiO2 work under air or oxygen to prevent the dissociation of the silicon oxide.

  Hydrogen
At high temperature, a reduction of traces of oxides (especially SiO2) in alumina can be observed.

  Carboneous atmospheres (CO, CH4)
It is reported that the reduction of alumina with CH4 may occur from 1500°C

GRAPHITE is a very convenient material for DTA crucibles for applications at very high temperature (up to 2400°C) but only under inert atmosphere.

BORON NITRIDE is recommended for the investigation of molten metals when alumina cannot apply.

TUNGSTEN is also dedicated to applications at very high temperature (up to 2400°C) under inert atmosphere. It is used to build the DTA detector (combined with Rhenium) and the corresponding crucibles. Oxidative atmospheres have to be forbidden.

  Hydrogen
Tungsten is used in hydrogen atmosphere when platinum can not be used (above 1000°C).

SOLUTIONS TO WORK UNDER CORROSIVE CONDITIONS WITH TG-DTA MODE

Compared to the TG mode, the solutions to work under corrosive conditions with the TG-DTA and TG-DSCmodes are more limited. However here are some proposals to solve some problems in the TG-DTA.

If you do Raman spectroscopy, you typically do it on a large and somewhat complex instrument. These systems provide high resolution results with full spectral coverage. But the high-end data comes with a high-end price tag for the research lab or organization, making Raman spectrometers less accessible to those with limited budgets or in teaching laboratories.

Bench-top Raman spectrometers offer an inexpensive alternative. They’re small, compact, ruggedized and portable while still delivering high sensitivity and repeatability. Most include auto-alignment so there’s no need to fiddle with lasers and optics. In other words, they’re a ‘quick and easy’ way to get quality measurements at a fraction of the price of higher-end systems.

These bench-top Raman instruments provide quality data at the push of a button. They can be configured with a variety of laser wavelengths, and are ideal for teaching the basics of Raman spectroscopy.

Outside of the classroom, they’re also useful when rapid quality measurements are a must, and complex instrumentation is not required. Bench-top Raman can be an affordable quality control tool for industries including food, pharmaceuticals and pulp & paper.

Please contact us and speak to one of our sales representatives to request a quote or more information on any of our products.

Brookhaven Instruments offers particle size analyzers utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) or disc-centrifugation, zeta potential analyzers utilizing phase analysis (PALS) and molecular weight detectors for GPC/SEC.

These instruments can be used to optimize the formulation of suspensions and emulsions, and to characterize nanoparticles.

Call us at 905-890-0555 to request a personal demonstration to see how these particle size analyzers can benefit you.

SensiQ Technologies, Inc. announces dynamic injection SPR (diSPRTM), a major upgrade to their flagship Pioneer label-free sensing platform.
“Dynamic injection SPR (diSPRTM) provides enhanced information content, including binding affinity characterization, without requiring the time-consuming individual concentration dilutions necessary with other SPR instrumentation,” said Eric Reese, PhD, VP-Marketing for SensiQ Technologies. “With diSPR™, we obtain affinity values (KD) with a single injection. In addition, the software upgrade included with diSPR™ – Version 3.1 – delivers new capabilities focused on ease of use, workflow acceleration, and enhanced data analysis.” Dr. Reese further noted that SensiQ Technologies has already received strong customer feedback concerning new software features such as Remote Notification, which allows operators, lab managers and other personnel to receive cell phone status updates of automated, unattended instrument operation in real-time, enabling faster response times in the lab.

“SensiQ Technologies’ new diSPR™ technology is available to new or existing customers through modular hardware enhancements to the existing Pioneer platform, combined with the updated software package,” said Tom Jobe, Chief Operating Officer for SensiQ Technologies.

The Pioneer system with fully-featured diSPR™ has completed a six month beta evaluation period in the labs of key opinion leaders and is now being shipped to customers.

Please contact us and speak to one of our sales representatives to request a quote or a demonstration of SensiQ’s new DiSPR™ technology

Viscosity is the ease in which a fluid flows – in other words, how thick a fluid is. So, for example, mercury is thicker than water and therefore has a higher viscosity.

But why do we need to know this and how do we measure it?

Knowing the viscosity of a fluid (and fluid doesn’t necessarily mean a liquid, it can also be a paste) is key to ensuring that it flows as it should. Brake fluid, for example transmits force through the braking system of a vehicle. That system wouldn’t work correctly if the fluid’s viscosity were different. And no one wants to drive a car with brakes that don’t work properly.

Sunscreen also depends on well-characterized viscosity so that you can spread it across your skin. If it wasn’t viscous, it would drip all over you before you rubbed it in.

Viscosity is measured using a viscometer. In general, either the fluid remains stationary and an object moves through it, or the object is stationary and the fluid moves past it. The drag caused by the relative motion of the fluid and a surface allows a measure of the viscosity.

To measure viscosity, a fluid sample is needed. Recently, RheoSense introduced the m-VROC viscometer which reliably and accurately measures viscosity with as little as 50 microlitres of sample. This capability is unmatched in the industry. It significantly reduces material costs when testing expensive samples and preserves precious materials.

In cases where extremely small sample volumes are needed, the m-VROC viscometer can be used to make reliable and accurate viscosity measurements with sample volumes as low as 20 microlitres. Other products on the market require nearly four times as much sample to perform a viscosity measurement. The m-VROC has an advantage for testing expensive and limited early stage drugs, for example.

To learn more about the manufacturer and products related to this article, please visit the following link:

• RheoSense

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In the pharmaceutical drug discovery field, determining how cells and biomolecules interact with each other is key to how well a drug works. A drug that efficiently binds to the appropriate location on or in a cell has a greater chance of being an effective medicine. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology is an invaluable tool during this kind of research.

SPR uses light to provide a non-invasive, label-free way of observing binding interactions in real time. With SPR, scientists can learn more about the mechanics of biomolecular interaction. This information is then used to improve the binding properties of a drug – in other words, to improve a drug’s performance.

SPR is also a powerful tool in cancer research. In this field, the technique is not only used to develop drugs to fight disease, but is also used to study how cells and biomolecules interact with each other. Cancer is often characterized by rampant cell division, and SPR is being used to investigate the molecular basis for this phenomenon.

Until now, however, researchers have often been dependent on core facilities and centralized labs for access to SPR technology. With SensiQ’s dual-channel, semi-automated SPR system, this kind of research can be performed in real time, with high quality affinity and kinetic data available to labs of all sizes, in an uncompromised, affordable solution. The SensiQ technology uses advanced microfluidics, proven surface attachment methodologies and state-of-the-art data analysis tools to provide kinetic, affinity and concentration data that researchers can use with confidence.

To learn more about the manufacturer and products related to this article, please visit the following link:

• SensiQ

Please contact us and speak to one of our sales representatives to request a quote or more information on any of our products.

Oxford Instruments plc (“Oxford Instruments” or “the Group”), a leading provider of high   technology tools and systems for industry and research, announces the acquisition of Asylum Research Corporation (“Asylum Research”), a leading provider of Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPM).  The acquisition is subject to customary conditions and is expected to be completed before the end of December 2012.

Asylum Research is an established US company based in Santa Barbara, California, with subsidiaries in the UK, Germany and Taiwan. Its SPM technology is used to image and characterise the properties of surfaces and structures down to the atomic scale providing invaluable information to enable development and exploitation at the nanoscale. Its products are used by academic and industrial customers across the world for a wide range of materials and bioscience applications. The combination of Oxford Instruments and Asylum Research strengthens the Group’s Nanotechnology Tools sector. SPM is a fundamental nanotechnology measurement technique and complements the existing portfolio of products and technologies within the Group.

Asylum Research is being acquired from its management for an initial debt free, cash free consideration of US$32.0 million with a deferred element of up to US$48.0 million payable over three years dependent on its performance over that period. Asylum Research generated Earnings Before Interest and Taxation (EBIT) of $1.1 million in the twelve months to 31 December 2011 from revenue in the same period of $19.6 million.  It had gross assets of $6.2 million as at 31 December 2011.  The acquisition will be funded from existing facilities.

The acquisition of Asylum Research is in line with Oxford Instruments’ 14 Cubed objectives, to achieve a 14% average compound annual growth rate in revenues and a 14% return on sales by the year ending March 2014.  This acquisition contributes to the planned acquisition element of the revenue growth objective. While Asylum Research is expected to deliver less than the 14% targeted margin in this and the next financial year, following the acquisition the 14 Cubed margin target for the Group remains unchanged.

As part of Oxford Instruments there will be significant scope to accelerate the inherent strong growth of Asylum Research’s end markets and to deliver substantial improvements in margin over time based on increasing scale.  Approximately 60% of Asylum Research turnover comes from customers working in the materials science area where the customer base and routes to market are shared with Oxford Instruments. This opens opportunities for market synergies and the development of new integrated products. The remainder of Asylum Research’s turnover is in the bio-nano area where SPM instruments are used for research into soft materials, such as DNA. This market provides a new growth opportunity for Oxford Instruments.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jonathan Flint, Chief Executive of Oxford Instruments, stated:

“The acquisition of Asylum Research significantly increases our footprint in the nanotechnology space and complements our strong position in electron microscopes with a presence in another fundamental nanotechnology measurement technique. The acquisition also gives us access to the rapidly growing bio-nano market as it allows customers to perform analysis of organic samples in their natural liquid environments, something which cannot readily be done using electron microscopes.”

To read Asylum’s message to their customers please click here