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| The FPIA-3000 has applications across all industry sectors. Wherever and whenever your requirement is for accurate, reliable and repeatable size and shape analysis, the FPIA-3000 is an ideal solution. At any point in your manufacturing process from early research and development, through process-analysis, manufacturing trouble-shooting and root-cause analysis to final product quality control, this instrument gives you an unprecedented level of product and process understanding. |
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| Toner manufacturers require defined size and shape characteristics to optimize the flow properties and charging capability. Toner particles that are close to, but not perfect spheres (i.e. with circularity of approx 0.95) are ideal. Too low a circularity (~ 0.8) will result in poor flow properties and increased wear, whereas toner particles produced as perfect spheres (circularity of 1.0) are self-lubricating and do not stick to the print medium sufficiently well. |
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| The FPIA-3000 is used for precise measurement of size and shape characteristics in a number of different ceramic applications, one of which is the mould design for the ‘lost foam casting’ of complex metal components in the automotive industry. Unless the permeability of the ceramic mould - a variable closely associated with particle size and shape - is correct, the integrity of the cast item will be compromised. |
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| Abrasive grains are produced from a variety of different materials, for example alumina (AI2 03), silicon carbide (SiC), carbon boron nitride (CBN) or diamond. Along with hardness it is particle shape which gives these materials their abrasive qualities when incorporated into a suitable matrix; for example as sandpaper, grinding wheels, wire sawing, sandblasting etc. The FPIA-3000 can be used to accurately define and control different grain shapes. |
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| Differences in the physical properties of excipient components of pharmaceuticals can cause final formulation variability. Differences can occur in batches from different raw-materials suppliers even though specifications are identical. Size data alone is often not sufficient to predict differences in product performance. Since the FPIA-3000 orientates and disperses particles when wet, it can be used even on delicate needle-shaped crystals to establish the causal links between manufacturing process variables and final product performance. |
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| Many processes associated with the Biotech industry increasingly require high-sensitivity shape analysis. Column chromatography is used to separate and purify complex mixtures of proteins and the FPIA is used to control packing density and identify out-of-spec particles. Protein crystals can now be manufactured in sizes and morphologies which are suitable for formulation and delivery in bulk process and the FPIA can be used for the QC of such crystals. Environmental toxicity testing is now required to be applied to all chemical entities manufactured above certain quantities. A simple test based on the growth inhibition of algae is commonly used and the FPIA can be used to quickly and easily measure the level of growth inhibition using a combination of size and shape parameters. |
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