INSTRUMENTS.

Portable digital durometer

The Shore Model S1 portable digital durometer is said to offer the latest technological advancements and the highest level of accuracy and repeatability in hardness testing. The Model S1 durometer is said to redefine the hardness testing of elastomers and polymeric materials. The Shore Model S1 portable digital durometer features an innovative design which eliminates operator influence during the measurement process, according to the company. Since the Model S1 handheld tester is battery-operated, the cordless design is said to make it the most portable digital durometer on the market. This portability feature provides the convenience of testing rubber and plastics in a variety of environments and locations, according to the company. The Model S1 offers the flexibility for testing all durometer scales, which is said to be easily accomplished simply and effortlessly by changing the test cartridge. Optional stands are also available for mounting the durometer. (Instron)

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Digital microscope camera

A digital camera for users of light microscopes who want to document their microscopic and macroscopic examinations with high-quality digital images is offered by the company. AxioCam is said to provide optimum image quality and ultra-high resolution in all areas, including materials analysis and quality assurance, regardless of the microscope contrasting techniques. AxioCam is said to be particularly beneficial for microscopists wanting to generate brilliant images in spite of weak light signals, i.e., mainly in fluorescence microscopy. The camera is said to be easy to operate via the AxioVision image archiving software, which provides a completely integrated configuration for image acquisition, processing, measurement and ar-chiving in a single program. (Carl Zeiss)

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Video image analyzer

The Vieew video image analyzer system allows laboratory personnel to analyze surface structures quickly, precisely and with reproducibility, according to the company. Its combination of sturdy hardware and intelligent software is said to make Vieew an indispensable tool for the objective inspection of surface defects. The Vieew system consists of a solid temperature-resistant and shock-resistant cabinet, an integrated black and white CCD camera, and high-end apochromatic lenses. Vieew uses the camera and lenses to capture data from a sample, and then this data flows into an intelligent teachable processor where it is processed, evaluated and stored. The software allows the development of customized tests and assessments. The classification of sur-face damages on the sample, such as gravel impact, cross hatch, filiform corrosion and delamination, is done in ac-cordance with standards or customer specifications. Vieww is said to take the classification of samples to a new level of quality and repeatability. (Atlas Electric Devices)

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Rubber parts inspection

The Micro system for micro-o-rings and micro-seals will inspect parts with an OD from 1 mm up to 5 mm. It is based on the company's core technology in machine vision, and experience gained from the rubber industry's Vario system. The Micro system enables the surface inspection of both sides of the parts (due to the ability to turn parts to be inspected) and the precise measurement of the dimensions of the parts inspected. The top-view sensors will detect surface defects such as foreign materials, non-fills, mold deposit indentations and flow marks on both sides of the seals. The dimensional sensor will measure the inner and outer diameter, or inner diameter and cross-section. It will also allow the ability to detect defects that are present in the shadow-graph image, such as flashes or nicks. The handling of these small parts through the system is said to have been a big challenge for the development of the system's mechanics and transportation unit. Electrostatic charges, together with the small weight of the parts, were the greatest challenges to overcome, according to the company. The throughput rate is between one to three parts per second, depending on the product being inspected, and the type of cameras installed. (Basler)

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Relative viscometer 

The Model Y501 relative viscometer measures solution viscosities. Solution viscosities are determined by the viscosity of the sample relative to the reference solvent. The relative viscometer measures the solvent and sample viscosity simultaneously, therefore errors due to temperature fluctuation and solvent variations are said to be avoided. The Model Y501 is said to be ideally suited for measuring the viscosity of dilute polymer solutions. This analytical instrument is designed to meet QA/QC requirements, and is said to have been proven in the field for analysis of PET, PVC, EPDM, PVA, PVOH, polybutadiene, polyolefins, cellulosics, hyaluronic acid, nylon and other polymers. It is said to provide faster analysis than conventional glass tubes, and yields higher accuracy and precision, according to the company. The viscometer is available in three levels of automation, including manual for simplified operation with some automation built in; autosampler for unattended measurement of a series of samples; and robotics for coupling with the Zymark laboratory robot. (Viscotek)

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Dynamic headspace analysis

Dynamic headspace analysis of large samples has been automated by the Model 6500 bulk dynamic headspace autosampler, which is capable of processing large- or irregularly-shaped materials in heated vessels as large as 95 mm in diameter. Volatile and semi-volatile analysis can be performed on polymers and similar items by either carrier flow or vacuum to a sorbent or cryogenic trap, according to the company. (CDS Analytical)

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