Posted by Ben Proudlove on Mon, Feb 08, 2010 @ 11:03 AM
Hopefully you'll have already seen on our website on pages such as this, this and this what a versatile system the Rubotherm Gravimetric Analyser is.
Because of the patented magnetic suspension coupling between the high precision balance and the sample this means that the sample is contained in a separate chamber or reactor to the balance. So what does that really mean? Well it means that you can subject your sample to any conditions that you wish to without worrying about your balance. So we can look at high pressure sorption of hydrogen into MOFs, CO2 into Zeolites or whatever you want to really....So your research isn't limited by your instrumentation you don't have to stop at 20bar if you don't want to...
So not just gas or vapour sorption but we can look at real time changes in a sample (by measuring extremely small mass changes) while subjecting it to conditions that perhaps simulate the actual process or environment the sample/product will be utilised in. So for example we can study biomass or coal gasification at various pressures and temperatures to see how the sample degrades (with a special gas sampling tube located near the sample to monitor what is given off at the various stages) - e.g. at 1100degC and 40bar.
So that takes me on to the title of this article. Polymers are used in many downhole applications and they need to withstand conditions in such an environment without degrading. So by placing a sample in the Rubotherm system and subjecting it to, say, 1000bar and 200degC while dosing sour gas across it we can accurately measure its degradation. Vital information for component development and the Rubotherm system is a great alternative to using many samples in pressure vessels.
And this approach can be applied to many other applications such as corrosion testing of metals or carbon build up on catalysts during steam reforming processes.
Contact us with your application requirements.