Suspension Image Analyser
The Suspension Image Analyser or SIA is a photo-optical image analysis module for in-depth analysis of the shape and other geometries of particles in a wet suspension or slurry. It measures the size and shape of particles between 0.75 μm to 2,000 μm.
The sample is illuminated by a stroboscopic LED, while a high speed high resolution camera records and stores the image of the particles while it is circulated through the sample cell. The images of the particles as it circulates past the sample cell is shown in real time on the software.
The SIA provides 26 different morphological data of each particle such as the length, width, area, perimeter, aspect ratio, ellipse ratio, compactness, roundness, circularity, concavity and convexity. The images of the particles are saved and can be recalled at a later date for further studies.
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Two Techniques – One Instrument:
The Suspension Image Analyser (SIA) can also be attached to the S3500 or Bluewave to provide complimentary data on the shape of particles in a liquid sample. This integrates two popular techniques – Laser Diffraction for Size analysis and Photo-Optical Imaging for Shape analysis – to provide a synergy between the two complimenting data.
Laser Diffraction is a long established method of analysing the particle size distribution of samples. It is a fast technique that requires minimal sample preparation and can analyse particles over a broad size range – from nanometers to millimeters. However, Laser Diffraction is an ensemble technique, which is ideal for bulk sample measurements whereby the samples may be polydisperse. It is a volume-based technique which allows it to be sensitive to over-sized (out of spec) particles.
The SIA provides morphological information of individual particles, as compared to ensemble data. It allows the system to pinpoint specific particles in the sample with small deviations in the morphology that might influence the bulk properties of the sample, as obtained using Laser Diffraction. It is a number-based technique which allows the system to be highly sensitive to the presence of fine particles in the bulk of the sample.
The sample is circulated through the two systems with a pump. The sample passes through the sample cell of the SIA for the system to analyse the morphology of the particles. The particles continue to flow through the tubings into the sampling cell of the S3500 or the Bluewave, whereby the particle size distribution is measured. The sample flows back to the pump whereby it continues flowing through this sample path throughout the duration of the analysis, which takes less than 1 minute.
This allows the user to obtain the size distribution and morphology of the SAME sample, at the SAME concentration and at the SAME time! No other competing instrument in the market this powerful combination of data.