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Sympatec Ltd
About us
Sympatec develops, manufactures, sells, services and supports an innovative range of best instruments for particle size and shape analysis in laboratory and process for customers worldwide.
With continuous innovations in the technological fields of laser diffraction, dynamic image analysis, ultrasonic extinction and photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS) Sympatec makes a prominent contribution to the development, production and quality control of most challenging particulate systems.
Typical applications cover dry powders and granules, fibres, suspensions, emulsions, gels, sprays and inhalants within a size range from 1 nm to 30,720 µm. Modular instruments show great versatility and can be adapted to the specific task within your laboratory. The proven measurement technologies are also available for integration into your process. Moreover, the instruments reliably deliver most accurate, reproducible and comparable results at shortest measuring times.
Products & services
NANOPHOX CS
Photon Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (PCCS) | Particle Size and Stability from 0.5 nm to 10,000 nm In general, the acquisition of scattered light intensities of particles under thermal motion is deployed for nanoparticle characterisation (principle of dynamic light scattering (DLS)). The method known as Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS) applies auto-correlation of scattered light intensities in order to determine particle size distribution. However, this conventional technology requires extremely diluted samples in order to deliver meaningful results. NANOPHOX brings Photon Cross-correlation Spectroscopy (PCCS) to life, which allows for nanoparticle size analysis in turbid suspensions and emulsions ranging from 0.5 nm to 10,000 nm at up to a hundred times higher solid contents. The outstanding technological feature of NANOPHOX is the acquisition of two separately induced scattered light intensities which then are cross-correlated. This allows for robust measurement even at higher sample concentrations. In addition to size, the aggregation or sedimentation behaviour of nanosuspensions (i.e. stability) may be analysed. Typical applications comprise e.g., polymer emulsions, colloidal silica, inks and research on nanodispersions in general.
QICPIC | PICTOS & Co.
Dynamic Image Analyse | Particle Size and Particle Shape from below 1 µm to 34,000 µm The modular image analysis sensor QICPIC combines size and shape analysis of disperse particle systems within a size range of < 1 µm to 34,000 µm. Flexible sensor adaptation for analysis of powders, granules, fibres, suspensions and emulsions is provided by a wide range of dispersing and dosing units. Numerous implementations in pharmaceutical and chemical industry, food and beverage technology or soil science just denote the array of applications in industry and research. The most prominent feature is an exposure time within the sub-nanoseconds regime allowing for an image capturing frequency of up to 500 frames per second. Initially, this ensures a high confidence level for measuring results based on a great number of observations. At the same time, the characterisation of finest, cohesive powders with RODOS becomes an option. The necessary level of energy application for effective dry dispersion results in particle flows with velocities of up to 100 m/s. The extremely short exposure times ensure capturing and clear imaging of even fastest singular particles. Powerful evaluation software supports the simultaneous determination of all relevant size and shape characteristics. A particle gallery together with diverse screening criteria facilitate creation of specific and meaningful reports even if several millions of particles are captured. Due to modular placed disperser and dosing units the analyser fits flexible for dry and wet applications generating product-specific characterisation.
OPUS
Ultrasonic Extinction | In-line and On-line Particle Size and Concentration Analysis from below 0.1 µm to 3,000 µm Liquid dispersions with a high concentration of solid particles or droplets, often totally opaque, are typically found in production processes. For optical analysers, sampling of a small partial flow of the main product stream combined with a high degree of dilution is required. Dilution not only causes an extensive preparation effort, but often changes the original state of the dispersion. For such applications, ultrasonic extinction provides an outstanding performance for particle size analysis of suspension and emulsions. One of the major benefits of ultrasonic extinction is the ability to operate in highly concentrated mediums, which typically come along with wet process stages. A solid content between 5 and 50 % by volume is the typical range of concentration. These are perfect conditions for ultrasonic extinction, which by principle covers concentrations up to 70 % by volume – typical for paste-like particulate systems. Instead of electromagnetic waves (light), ultrasonic extinction applies low energetic sound waves. These waves are passing through a suspension or emulsion with 31 varying frequencies. For the introduction as well as the detection of sound waves, a piezo-electric RF-generator and detector set-up is used. The recorded loss of sound energy depends on the size and concentration of particles. A corresponding attenuation spectrum is determined and converted into a particle size distribution of 31 classes. Using sound instead of light waves, ultrasonic extinction is independent of the level of transparency. Hence, totally opaque materials like ore slurries, water in crude oil or coke slurries, can be analysed. Furthermore, paints, sugar pastes, or pharmaceutical suspensions with high solids contents, rank as standard applications for the ultrasonic extinction principle.
MYTOS | TWISTER & Co.
Laser Diffraction | Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution from 0.25 µm to 3,500 µm MYTOS integrates the established core technologies of HELOS laser diffraction and RODOS dry dispersion in a single robust body: a process-proven laser diffraction sensor for dry powders ranging from 0.25 µm to 3,500 µm. In combination with continuously operating sampling system TWISTER a complete integration into the processing pipe is realised making it a true in-line solution delivering representative results. Alternatively, MYTOS may be operated on-line either with TWISTER, MIXER, L-probes or existing sampling solutions. Integrated at-line operation in automated lab environments is succeeded with vibratory feeder VIBRI. For instance, typical applications comprise milling operations or spray granulation. MYTIS is first choice for granules or fragile particles. It combines HELOS laser diffraction technology with gravitational disperser GRADIS in a robust industrial system for a size range from 0.5 µm to 3,500 µm. The process-specific laser diffraction sensors find a wide range of applications from cement to pharmaceuticals, from roughest industrial conditions to GMP environments. If required, both systems may be configured for ATEX zones. » RODOS at MYTOS | injection disperser for finest, even cohesive powders | 0.25 µm to 3,500 µm » GRADIS at MYTOS | gravity disperser for coarser, even fragile dry particulate systems | 0.5 µm to 3,500 µm » VIBRI | vibratory feeder for precise dosing with adaption to proprietary sampler or for manual feeding (in at-line combination with MYTOS) » TWISTER | dynamic, representative sampler for installation in process pipes (in-line or or on-line in combination with MYTOS) » MIXER | static mixer for representative sampling behind screw feeder or feeding » L-probes | compact sampler with blow back unit or with pivoting Option
HELOS | RODOS & Co.
Laser Diffraction | Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution from below 0.1 µm to 8,750 µm The proven HELOS series – with its classical parallel beam laser diffraction set-up – offers a powerful technology for particle size distribution analysis of powders, granules, suspensions, emulsions, sprays and numerous other particulate systems. A size range from below 0.1 µm to 8,750 µm is mastered. In the early 1980s, Sympatec introduced a breakthrough innovation which was leading laser diffraction to another dimension: dry powder dispersion for even the finest, cohesive powders came true with RODOS. And with the R series of our laser diffraction sensor HELOS new benchmarks for precision and accuracy have been achieved. Latest improvements comprise enhanced application of parameter-free Fraunhofer evaluation down to the submicron regime (below 1 µm), the greatest measuring signal frequency for best resolution with range combination technology and more powerful evaluation modes (Fraunhofer & Mie). Laser diffraction is now even closer to absolute standards. Continually, industrial requirements and limits are considerably outmatched. The modular system design together with a great variety of dispersing and dosing units provides a flexible adaptation to the most diverse industrial and research applications.