The Sysmex FPIA-3000 automated particle shape and size analyser from Malvern Instruments now includes the facility to measure particles suspended in non-aqueous solvents, as well as those in water-based materials.
The FPIA-3000 can accommodate all common solvents including acetone, methylethylketone, ethyl ace-tone, xylene and toluene.
The fully automated unit can measure particles in the range 0.8 to 300 microns and delivers both particle size and shape information. Using a CCD camera, the system produces images of each particle and provides a scattergram of shape index versus particle size in just 2.5 minutes.
Samples pass through a sheath flow cell that transforms the particle suspension into a narrow or flat flow, ensuring that the largest area of the particle is oriented towards the camera and that all particles are in focus. The CCD camera captures 60 images every second and these are analysed in real time.
Numerical evaluation of particle shape is derived from measurement of the area of the particle. A number of shape factors are calculated including circularity, as-pect ratio and circle equivalent diameter.
All measurements are stored, as are the particle images, and the system provides comprehensive data analysis and display parameters, together with a variety of options for data output.