The HORIBA
LA-950 system is the highest performance laser diffraction particle size analyzer
available. Recent improvements to the PowderJet dry powder feeder include increasing
the upper measurement pressure to 4 bar, completely flexible adjustment of working
pressure from 0 to 4 bar, and automatic recoding and display of the pressure
used for the measurement. Even sub micron samples can now be completely dispersed
in the natural dry state and accurately measured from 200 nm to 3 mm.
The most significant advancement, however, comes with the launch of the revolutionary
Method Expert software. This new software suite completely automates method
development, making every user an expert in the challenging science of particle
size analysis. Every decision required during method development is now automated
through advanced software routines that guide the user through a rigorous process.
The steps automated by method Expert include selection of refractive index,
measurement duration, pump and stirrer speed, concentration, amount of ultrasound.
The user is guided at each step to select a range of possible settings, perform
the necessary measurements, and then select the optimum condition. Each chosen
condition is then stored in a method file that will automatically perform each
step of the procedure with the click of a single button. Other software packages
create standard operating procedures, but only the HORIBA Method Expert guides
the user through an informed decision making process to the development of reproducible
and robust particle size methods.