Magnetic particles in fabric softeners and nanotubes in creams?
International Workshop Dispersion Analysis organized by LUM in Berlin from 1-2 March
Nanoparticles and convenience goods, having nothing in common at first sight, are subject to the same physical principles with respect to the characterization of their separation behaviour during production, storage and application.
Magnetic particles or carbon nanotubes are not stored and applied as powders but being dispersed in a liquid phase. Resulting are heterogeneous systems of two or more substances, not chemically bonded nor dissolved in each other (dispersions). The same applies for liquid fabric softeners, cosmetic creams and pigment pastes. In all these products, sooner or later the phases separate from each other resulting in problems at formulation, storage, transport and application.
The scientific committee, chaired by Prof. Dr. Lerche, Managing Director of LUM GmbH, has selected topics for this year’s conference, being of interdisciplinary interest for industry as well as for the academic community.
The evaluation of the physical stability at relevant storage conditions is the bottleneck in development and market introduction of new home and personal care products. A representative of Procter & Gamble explains the use of direct and accelerated stability analysis in a high throughput method on the example of liquid fabric softeners.
The effectiveness of a new type of „green” emulsifier on shelf life stability of creams is discussed in a contribution by Georg Simon Ohm University of Applied Sciences. Here, as well as in a paper about the characterization of pigment preparations by iSL Chemie, the correlation between accelerated stability analysis using LUMiFuge® and rheology is shown.
Besides „ready-to-use“ dispersions another focus is put on the characterization of particle size distribution, particle density and magnetizability of dispersed particles and droplets.
The presentation given by 3M (USA) will focus on using analytical centrifugation, realized in the Dispersion Analyser LUMiSizer®, as a primary tool for developing and verifying appropriate measurement methods for the characterization of particle systems. The particle size distribution as parameter for process and industrial quality control.
Due to their structure the dispersability of carbon nanotubes is much more complicated than for spherical particles. It also cannot be described using traditional analytical methods. Therefore, it was investigated by Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden using a LUMiSizer®. In parallel, the particle size distributions were determined according to ISO 13318 und ISO 22412. The results of comparison are presented in Berlin, too.
Whereas for most dispersions a preferably long shelf-life and a high separation stability is desired, the separation of specific components from a fermentation broth is the contrary process. During the recent years the application of magnetic fields has attracted increased attention. Magnetic or magnetizable particles with a specific surface functionalization are used as carriers. Their separation behaviour was investigated in a Magnet-LUMiFuge®, presented by a research group of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
Takeda Colloid Techno-Consulting, Japan, reports on further possibilities of particle surface characterization with the LUMiSizer®. The German Dr. Lerche KG will focus on the determination of the in-situ density of bio- and nanoparticles dispersed in liquids. The in-situ density is significantly different from the property of the dry product and therefore more application relevant.
The entire comprehensive programme allows all participants to discuss their questions with the international experts and to set future trends in their particular research and development and production fields. During the second day different application courses will take place following customers’requirements.
International Workshop Dispersion Analysis, Berlin, 1-2 March 2012
Programme and registration:
www.lum-gmbh.com/tl_files/Veranstaltungen/International_Workshop_Dispersion_Analysis_LUM_2012.pdf
Contact:
LUM GmbH
Rudower Chaussee 29
12489 Berlin
Telefon: +49-30-6780 6030
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E-Mail: info(at)lum-gmbh.de
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