Anton Paar Powder Cell for the MCR rheometer series

The Anton Paar Powder Cell, for the MCR rheometer series, brings an array of traditional rheological methods to the field of powder. The product makes it possible to simulate and determine powder flow under different conditions. An MCR rheometer plus a Powder Cell is a suitable combination for true rheological investigations of powders in quality control as well as research and development.

The product combination can simulate and determine powder flow under different conditions; it therefore ensures efficient quality control and smooth powder processing. It can furthermore determine a powder’s cohesion strength — the internal resistance of the powder to flow — making it possible to predict whether a powder will flow through a process smoothly and whether the quality of a powder has changed.

The device delivers reproducible results by clearing the ‘powder memory’ with fluidisation. An automatic measurement program ensures results within 2 min and therefore high throughput. The product is easy to use, providing automatically performed calibration and live visualisation of the measurements. Operating costs are said to be low and the dust protection hood safeguards the operator and the instrument from fine and potentially hazardous powder.

More than just an instrument for quality control, the product also enables the study of dry granular flows, especially in the fluidised or near-fluidised state. It brings the precision achieved with MCR rheometers to the field of granular media. It not only includes a high-precision pressure-drop device, but also enables rotational and oscillatory tests in any state of consolidation, fluidisation or any state in between. The included precision mass flow controller gathers new data between zero-load and the fluidised state.