Newsletter - October 2020
In this issue
News of how our instrumentation is helping to generate economic benefit is always good to hear since it underlines the industrial value that our technologies can deliver. The latest customer to share such news is Haldor Topsoe, a global leader in high performance catalysts and proprietary technology for the chemical and refining industries. Haldor Topsoe engineers have saved in the region of £250,000 by establishing robust selection criteria for powder processing equipment on the basis of measurements with their FT4. By measuring three powder properties – compressibility, permeability, and cohesion - they can reliably determine when to install a fluid diaphragm pump rather than a significantly more expensive pneumatic conveying system. Furthermore, the company is also using their instrument for supply chain management, resulting in additional savings.
Read the full story to learn more about the value of relevant and reliable powder testing. Our thanks go to Haldor Topsoe for their willingness to share these excellent examples of industrial applications of powder rheology.
Whilst the pandemic continues to present challenges for all businesses, we would like to reassure you we are open for business and very much here to answer any queries you have, with test methods, specific applications or any other powder-related issues. Our offices are open, and we continue with sales, manufacturing, in-house testing and R&D studies. Catch up with some of our latest work via the links below.
Our latest application notes provide useful information for two very different audiences:
‘Preparation techniques and storage conditions on the flow properties of additive manufacturing feedstocks’ presents data showing how the properties of stainless steel powders can be impacted by heat treatment, moisture and exposure to air (as opposed to nitrogen). The results are relevant to anyone working in metal AM looking to optimise the performance of what are typically expensive feedstocks.
Click here to download
'Variability in fumed silica powders' on the other hand will be of most interest to our customers in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Fumed silica is a common flow additive, but properties can vary significantly from grade to grade. This note will help you to establish a test regime to identify the grade most suited to any specific application.
Click here to download
‘Testing Powders at Elevated Temperature’ is a recently published article presenting in-house research in this important area. Although most powder testing is carried out at ambient temperature, powders can exhibit significantly different behaviour in elevated temperature processes. Particles may become more compliant and deform, moisture may migrate and air in the sample will change density. Find out how such changes can lead to industrially relevant, measurable differences in critical powder properties.
Click here to read the article in full
Whilst opportunities for conference attendance remain limited, online events are providing a valuable platform for information exchange. We will be presenting at the following three global events during November:
Manufacturing Chemist Live, 10 – 11th November, will focus on the processing of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs); our contribution is entitled ‘Developing a Design Space for Continuous and Batch Wet Granulation’ on 10th November at 14.55 GMT.
Virtual AIChE Annual Meeting Live, 16 – 19th November, is a great forum for engineers and scientists seeking innovation and professional development. Tim Freeman will be delivering three presentations across the course of the event, covering topics of particular relevance to the AM, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Virtual ASTM International Conference on Additive Manufacturing 2020, 16th – 20th November, is a flagship ASTM event focusing on standardization, qualification and certification across the AM supply chain. Join us on the 16th November at 14.00 EST for ‘Evaluating Process-Relevant Powder Properties for Additive Manufacturing Applications’.