Stability and microrheology measurement for emulsion and suspension from formulaction

Chicago – Formulaction of France currently offers product ranges of lab instruments that utilize optical measurement based on Multiple Light Scattering technology: the new Rheolaser™ for microrheology analysis and Turbiscan™ for stability analysis. Formulaction developed these patented technologies to characterize concentrated dispersions without sample preparation (no dilution, non intrusive method). Both ranges can be used for analysis in industries such as pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, petroleum, electronics and more.

The new Rheolaser™ is a unique, laser-based instrument using MS-DWS technology in order to evaluate the visco-elasticity properties. Rheolaser represents a real breakthrough in the rheology measurement with the new possiblities. All measurements are performed though a hassle-free class cell and made with the sample at rest and with zero shear. Rheolaser incorporates the concept of microrheology, which measures Brownian motion of particles contained into a liquid dispersion to determine the local deformation of a sample. This local probing method gives access to rheological properties characterized by:

• Elastic modulus G’µR

• Viscous modulus G’µR

The possibilities of the technology are widespread:

– Evaluation of the visco-elasticity of the sample at rest/zero shear such as viscosity factor, elasticity factor, G’ and G”, network size, relaxation time, etc.

– Ageing measurement: No sample destruction, and rheological properties of a sample can be followed for hours, days, weeks.

– Structure recovery/thixotropy: Analysis of the rheology over the time, just after shearing, in order to evaluate the internal network for response and recovery.

Turbiscan™ is a unique and powerful tool to monitor the stability of concentrated dispersions such as emulsions, suspensions, foams, etc. The Turbiscan is an optical instrument and can detect and quantify any kind of destabilization phenomena like migration (sedimentation, creaming, phase separation) and also size variation (flocculation, coalescence). Turbiscan is the flagship product for Formulaction, and in the last 15 years has been used in more than 1,000 R&D labs worldwide for fast and accurate measurement of concentrated dispersions.

Advantages of Turbiscan are:

– Fast detection: up to 50 times faster than the naked eye

– No dilution required: up to 90% in concentration

– An objective method offering graphical and numerical data to better quantify results

About Formulaction:

After patenting a new method to measure opaque solutions, Gérard Meunier started Formulaction in France in 1994 to release the Turbiscan MA1000. This technology received multiple accolades for the next several years as both the product range and the network of international customers grew. In January 2009, the company opened a subsidiary near Philadelphia to better serve its North American customers and to launch the Rheolaser. Today, the company counts more than 30 countries in its worldwide network.