Applications

The sorption apparatus characterises the behaviour of materials in different humidity and temperature environments. Vapour sorption isotherms can be measured and compound stability evaluated. Additionally, surface adsorption effects can be examined.

Specifications

• Gravimetric measurements using 50 ng resolution microbalance
• Organic solute and water reservoirs
• Temperature range: 5 to 60 ºC
• Analysis of solid and powder samples
• Surface adsorption effects can be examined
• Vapour sorption isotherms can be measured and compound stability evaluated

Case Studies

Vapour Adsorption/Desorption Isotherms

Drying Kinetics

 

Applications

Monitors the degradation of resorbable biomaterials in addition to release from pharmaceutical materials and devices. Applications include formulations, materials, soluble dosage forms and release in vivo.

Specifications

• 8-vessel / 8-spindle configuration
• Standard 1 L vessels
• US Pharmacopeia (USP) compliance

Case Studies

Release

Applications

Measures the absolute density of solids and slurries with volumes 0.01 to 1 cm³.

Specifications

• High-speed, high-precision volume measurements and density calculations
• Uses gas displacement to measure volume
• Powders
• Solids
• Slurries
• Bulk Objects
• Porous Scaffolds

Case Studies

Density of various materials

Applications

Determines the pore size distribution and pore volume of materials, including dental and medical materials, porous scaffolds and catalysts. Examples of materials include: catalysts and bio-scaffolds and gas storage materials such as carbons, zeolites and metal organic frameworks.

Chemisorption can be used to investigate active metal dispersions or surface acidity of catalysts. Materials with low surface areas such as powdered metals, glass fibers, and natural organic materials can also be analysed.

Specifications

• High pressure intrusion of mercury into porous materials
• Pore diameters from 3 nm to 360 μm
• Resolution > 100 nL pore size
• Measures surface areas from 0.001 to 3,000 m²/g

Case studies

Applications

Nanoindentation measures mechanical properties and scratch characteristics including fatigue and wear. Hardness and modulus may be assessed on the nanoscale using diamond-coated indenters.

Specifications

• Force range: 0.1 to 500 mN
• Liquid immersion
• Humidity control: 20 %RH to 90 %RH
• Target location defined to within < 2 μm
• Ability to perform fatigue and wear studies over long timescales
• Frequency dependent mechanical properties
• Creep, impact and adhesion modules
• Range of indenter geometries, including spherical, conical, Berkovich and cube corner

Case Studies

Creep Test

Deformation and Cracking

Indentation Hysteresis Data

Applications

Testing system for compressive and tensile strength of materials. Example applications include tensile testing of polymers and compressive testing of biocements.

Specifications

• Force range: 10 mN to 30 kN
• Compressive, tensile and flexural testing
• Liquid immersion facilities to work under physiological conditions
• Powder compaction studies

Case Studies

Stress Relaxation

Destructive Testing

Powder Compaction

Applications

Enables measurement of mechanical properties, such as tensile and compressive strengths, under conditions of controlled temperature and humidity. Fatigue studies may be conducted over extended time periods (weeks).  

Specifications

• Force range 10 mN to 2 kN
• Electromechanical displacement control
• Displacement resolution < 5 μm
• Custom waveforms and strain patterns
• Humidity range 10 - 80% RH
• Temperature up to 40 °C
• Liquid immersion facilities

Case Studies

Flexure Testing

Fatigue Testing

 Tensile Testing

Applications

Mechanical characterisation of single micro-particles, single cells, soft solids, MEMS devices, particle-particle interactions and particle-surface interactions.

Specifications

• Compression testing
• Tensile testing
• Adhesion testing
• Stress relaxation behaviour
• Indentation response
• Frequency-dependent behaviour
• Variable environmental conditions

Case Studies

Indentation and Stress Relaxation

Tensile Testing and Extension

Applications

Tribological measurements of friction, lubrication and wear.

Specifications

• Force range: 100 mN to 5 N
• Reciprocating motion
• Rotating motion
• Wear studies may be conducted over long timescales

Case Studies

Wear-Induced Deformation

Tribological Behaviour

Scratch-Induced Delamination

Applications

Tribological measurements of friction, lubrication and wear.  

Specifications

• Force range: 1 mN to 1 N
• Reciprocating motion
• Rotating motion
• Temperature and humidity control
• Liquid immersion facilities
• Wear studies may be conducted over long timescales

Case Studies

Time-Dependent Tribological Performance

Environmental Testing

Applications

Interferometry measures surface topography and wear volume through three-dimensional surface profiling. Equipment may be used to measure coating film thickness up to 60µm.  

Specifications

• Vertical range > 10 mm and up to 50 mm
• 100 mm x 100 mm sample positioning stage
• Phase mode for nanoscale features resolution
• Film thickness analysis up to 60 μm
• Statistical analysis of surface roughness
• Dissimilar materials analysis
• Quantification of wear volumes

Case Studies

             Woven Fabric Surface                  Poly(methyl methacrylate) abrasion

               Printed nanoparticles                           Electrospun microfibres

Applications

Characterisation of particulate systems (dry and wet dispersions), including powders and suspensions. High speed analysis of particle size and shape distributions.  

Specifications

• Laser diffraction for particles in the range 1 μm to > 800 μm for wet and dry samples
• High speed video analysis for particles in the range 10 μm to > 6 mm
• Dispersion and feed units assist particle break-up prior to analysis
• Liquid dispersion for aqueous and organic solvents
• Suitable for studies of agglomerated, fine, and cohesive powders

Case Studies

Frame-by-frame video analysis

Shape factors

Size distribution

Applications

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) measures biomolecular interactions providing high quality, real time kinetic data, requiring no tags or labelling of compounds or proteins. Example application include the study of proteins, antibodies, peptides, DNA or lipids as well as investigating drug binding or antibody-antigen interactions.  

Specifications

• Real-time simultaneous dual-channel SPR
• Temperature range: 10 - 90 ºC
• Sample loop: 10 µL - 2 ml
• Flow rate: 1 µl/hr - 10 ml/min

Case Studies