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    Field ESA

    Field ESA is a powerful, reliable and user friendly zeta potential device which delivers reliable and reproducible results in concentrated, turbid, colored or viscous dispersions. Invasive sample preparation procedures are thus not necessary. It is highly versatile and can be employed in the lab or as on-line process analysis tool with a variety of extensions, thus providing a vast variety of R&D, QA and QC solutions on a daily basis. Thanks to the integrated microprocessor technology and an optional battery pack, it can also be used in the field with a dip-in sensor for up to two days without the need of a computer.

    Advantages

    • Concentrated, colored and turbid samples can be measured directly
    • SOPs and user-friendly input interfaces ensure optimal and reproducible results
    • Flow-through and batch measurements as well as sample stirring are allowed
    • Uses PA Titrator for fully automated assessment of IEP, additive optimization
    • Connect with PA Rhometer for online volume and weight fraction estimation
    • Connect with PA Fast Sizer 100 for particles size and size distribution measurements for

    Applications

    • Short R&D cycles of colloids through work at high concentrations
    • Improvement of recipe stability using automated iso-electric-point (IEP) determination and automated additive concentration optimization
    • On- and off-line process optimization through quality analysis and quality control in real time or through sampling
    • Application field:
    ◊ Ceramics ◊ Filtration
    ◊ Paint and inks ◊ Wet milling/grinding
    ◊ Semiconductors ◊ Control of surface coating
    ◊ Dyes ◊ Homogenization control
    ◊ Food colloids ◊ Abrasives and polish
    ◊ Cement ◊ Nano-dispersions
    ◊ Paper ◊ Catalysts and Zeolites

    Technology

    The device employs alternating current to force the charged particles to oscillate with the frequency of the external electric field. The oscillation of matter at frequencies of 200 KHz to 2 MHz produces ultrasonic waves. The amplitude of these waves or the Electrokinetic Sonic Amplitude (ESA) is proportional, through proven theory, to the zeta potential of the particles in the dispersion. The technology is non-invasive and non-destructive as the pulse widths are in the region of milliseconds and the acoustic wave power is a couple of microwatts. The pulse energy is so small that it has to be detected with a special phase sensitve transducer, this high precision transducer detects ESA as well as the phase shift.

    Technical Parameters

    Measured Parameters Lower Limit Upper Limit
    Zeta potential -250 mV 250 mV
    ESA 0 mPa*m/V 30 mPa*m/V
    pH 1 14
    Conductivity 1 µS/m 5 S/m
    Temperature
    Standard probe 5 °C 50 °C
    High-temperature probe 5 °C 90 °C
    Particle size estimation 220 nm* see below*
    Measurement time 1 s 60 s
    Sample characteristic
    Particle size range >0.5 nm* 100 µm*
    Volume 1 ml -
    Density difference 0.1 g/cm³ -
    Particle concentration 0.01 % v/v* Paste-like suspensions
    Sample types Dispersions, emulsions, pastes, semisolids -
    Solvents Aqueous and non-aqueous solvents -
    Available cells Volume Available measurements
    Micro cell 1 ml (Steel) Zeta potential, ESA
    Small cell 5 ml (Polymer/Steel) Zeta potential, ESA
    Flowthrough cell 7 ml (Steel) Zeta potential, ESA
    Standard cell 50/70 ml (POM/Steel) Zeta potential, ESA, temperature & conductivity,pH, IEP, additive titration
    Large cell 250 ml (POM/Teflon) Zeta potential, ESA, temperature & conductivity(external sensor),pH, IEP, additive titration
    User defined Upon request Upon request

    * - Depending on the size distribution, nature of the material, the density difference particle to solvent and cell configuration