A new particle characterization and rheology laboratory is being installed
at the Center for Ceramic Research (CCR) at Rutgers (State University of New
Jersey), as part of a collaborative project between the university and Malvern
Instruments. Malvern is providing a suite of state-of-the-art instrumentation
that will be used by researchers from the CCR, other university departments
and partnership universities (Penn State and New Mexico) to continue the exploration
of the links between rheology and particle characteristics. The new facility
will be managed by Professor Richard Haber, director of the CCR.
“Properties such as particle size, size distribution and zeta potential
often directly influence rheological behaviour,” said Professor Haber.
“Malvern recognizes this and, uniquely, has in-house expertise and instrumentation
in both fields. They are an excellent partner for our work. We look forward
to using these new tools to push forward understanding in this industrially
important area.”
The 500 square foot laboratory will contain rotational and capillary rheometers
- the Gemini and RH 2000 respectively. These will be complemented by a Zetasizer
Nano S for nanoparticle characterization, and a Mastersizer 2000 for laser diffraction-based
particle size measurement in the range 0.02–2000 microns. All of these
state-of-the art instruments are manufactured by Malvern Instruments.
“Both rheology and particle characterization are core to Malvern’s
materials characterization business, so we are delighted to be collaborating
with Professor Haber and the CCR,” said Fred Mazzeo, Americas Product
Manager – Rheometry, Malvern Instruments. “We know that the world-class
researchers at Rutgers will make great use of our systems and we look forward
to seeing the results. There is enormous interest in exploring the links between
particle properties and rheology, and the outcome of this research will have
widespread application.”
Malvern Instruments provides a range of complementary materials characterization
tools that deliver inter-related measurements reflecting the complexities of
particulates and disperse systems, nanomaterials and macromolecules.