Applications

Balances are used in many different applications. They must measure both moisture loss and density, as well as offering a high level of traceability. Are you familiar with all the potential applications?

Moisture determination:


Moisture

A generally accepted definition of the term “moisture” does not exist. The definition of the term is often influenced by the physical measuring principle used for moisture determination. This section describes moisture as encountered in conjunction with thermal (dry) analytical methods. The moisture of a material includes all those substances which volatilize when heated and cause the sample to lose weight. The loss of weight is detected with a balance and interpreted as moisture content. In addition to water, therefore, this definition of the term moisture covers other losses in mass, such as organic solvents which evaporate, alcohol, fats, oils, aromatic components, and decomposition and combustion products.

Selecting a suitable measuring method
The selection of a suitable measuring method is essentially determined by the following variables:

• Requirements with regard to accuracy, measuring range, repeatability, sensitivity
• Type of water retention
• Required information: Water content or moisture content
• Measuring rate
• Sample quantity
• Physical characteristics of the sample (e.g. decomposition temperature)
• Budget
• Simplicity (with regard to operation or functionality)
• Legal requirements (reference method)
• Options for automation
• Calibration options

Method	Strengths	Weaknesses
Infrared drying	Typical measurement duration 5 to 15 mins. Initial weighing of large sample quantities is possible. Easy to handle, simple method, compact sample solution.	Decomposition of the sample is possible. Substances which evaporate along with water.
Halogen drying	Fast; typical measurement duration 2 to 10 mins. Weighing of large sample quantities is possible. Easy-to-use, simple method, versatile, compact solution.	Decomposition of the sample is possible. Substances which evaporate along with water.
Karl Fischer titration
Coulometric	A precise reference method. Suitable for trace analyses, water detection.	Working methods have to be tailored to the sample being measured.
Volumetric	A precise reference method, water detection.	Working methods have to be tailored to the sample being measured.

 

Comparator – best possible traceability

Mass comparators are primarily used by metrological national institutes, bureaus of standards, and national and industrial calibration laboratories for weight determination. These applications require an extremely high resolution.
   
Mass is always determined by comparing a standard and a test specimen. In traditional mechanical balances, this is achieved by using levers and springs. Electronic balances compare the weighing signal generated by a test specimen (weighing sample) with a "scale". As part of an adjustment procedure, the scale is set to the correct sensitivity by the weighing signal generated in a standard manner. Comparator balances compare weighing signals from substitution weighing procedures.

What load cells are used for?


An ever-increasing product portfolio for Automated Precision Weighing applications aimed at the needs of mechanical and systems engineers and geared towards instruments and devices with integrated precision weighing technology.
   
In many processes, mass or weight continues to be a central measured variable for process control and quality control. Fast and automatic, yet highly precise weight determination is opening up completely new dimensions in many areas of production and laboratory automation. Whether simple weighing, precision dosing, specific material characterization, efficient fill quantity control or quality control, precision weighing modules are the order of the day wherever weighing has to be quick, precise, and automatic, with a direct link to the process.

Typical applications:

• Liquid handling
• Material characterization
• Filling/Dosing
• 100% quality control and process control
• Automatic precision weighing
• Statistical quality control
  

Find out more in the Academia catalog

LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System)

This category of software system is used for data processing in laboratories specializing in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology or medicine. In principle, we could be talking about any laboratory, although LIMS is not necessarily the term used by all the above sectors.

Find out more in the Academia catalog

Density and how it is determined

The density of a substance is defined as its mass in grams contained in 1cm3. It is typically denoted by the Greek letter ρ (rho). Density states mass per volume and is a characteristic property of a material which is not dependent on shape or size. The material can be a solid, a liquid or a gas.

Find out more in the Academia catalog

Antistatic

Antistatic describes materials or solutions which are used to prevent objects from becoming statically charged or to minimize such phenomena.

Find out more in the Academia catalog

Gravimetric testing of pipettes

Pipettes are one of the most important tools found in laboratory environments. The quality of research results is very much dependent upon their precision and accuracy. To ensure long-term precision, particularly in the range from 1 μl to -1000 μl, pipettes have to be tested and calibrated from time to time.

Find out more in the Academia catalog

MinWeigh

MinWeigh defines the lowest possible weight at which the weighing result will still conform to process requirements.

Find out more in the Academia catalog

The right weight

Weights are designed to provide the best possible support for routine testing in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Routine tests carried out by users have significant advantages:

• High degree of process accuracy and limited out-of-process tolerance risk
• Sensitivity test with two weights at the upper and lower range of the balance
  
• Defined weights for testing the weighing data of your balance model

Find out more in the Academia catalog