The FT4 Powder Rheometer is a universal powder flow tester for measuring powder flow properties and powder behaviour.
It offers benefits that remain unmatched by similar systems. These include:
- The ability to simulate powder processing conditions, by testing samples in a consolidated, moderately stressed, aerated or fluidised state.
- The application of multi-faceted powder characterisation to assess dynamic flow, bulk and shear properties to construct the most comprehensive understanding of how a powder behaves.
- Unparalleled sensitivity, enabling the differentiation of powders that other testers classify as identical.
A powder’s resistance to flow is measured whilst the powder is in motion. A precision ‘blade’ is rotated and moved downwards through the powder. This causes many thousands of particles to interact. The resistance experienced by the blade represents the difficulty of this relative particle movement, or the bulk flow properties. The more difficult it is to move the blade, the more the particles resist motion and the harder it is to get the powder to flow. Excellent reproducibility is achieved by moving the blade in a precise and repeatable way. The advanced control systems of the FT4 accurately set the rotational and vertical speeds of the blade, which defines the Helix Angle and Tip Speed.
The FT4 also includes a shear cell for measuring the powder’s shear strength, a wall friction kit in order to quantify how the powder shears against the wall of the process equipment (in accordance with ASTM standard D7891), plus accessories for measuring bulk properties, such as density, compressibility and permeability.
The Powder Rheometer control software is intuitive and easy to use, guiding the operator through a wizard style interface to ensure sample analysis is uncomplicated.
Whether your objective is to optimise a formulation in a development environment, predict in-process performance, understand batch differences, or to ensure the quality of raw material or intermediates, the FT4 will provide valuable and unique information that will help you address your challenges.