Add-on for FT4 rheometer
rheometer in Europe for testing the flow properties of powders, an
important measurement in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries
where most processes involve the extensive use of powdered
compounds.
Later this year, Freeman intends to launch the first accessory for the FT4, upgrading its capabilities to include not only flow measurements but also shear testing.
At the time of its launch, Freeman claimed that the FT4 was the only instrument on the market measuring both axial and rotational force (or torque) to determine flow energies. This hike in data quality, it said, improved the rheometer's role in the formulation of new materials, and allowed users to ensure optimal handling and processing of powders in production runs. Also, it raised quality control standards with follow-on benefits in productivity and quality gains.
The new accessory promises to improve the data obtainable with the instrument still further by providing a measure of the tendency of particles in a powder to fracture during production. This can have an impact on the quality of the resulting product.
Freeman maintains that the FT4 has been adopted by eight of the top 10 pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company will be showcasing the new product, and the shear test module, at this year's Powtech exhibition in Nurnberg, Germany, 16-18 March.
