Delft Solids Solutions - Materials Research and Characterization Laboratory

Delft Solids Solutions is a fully independent service and research oriented contract laboratory. Our activities comprise investigation of physical characteristics of solid materials from the micro to macro level, in particular particle size and porosity. These variables often impact on the behaviour and performance of solids with respect to medicine effectiveness, storage, transport, adsorption, controlled release, extrusion processes, dust explosions, catalysis, etc.

Delft Solids Solutions provides access to scientific and technical knowledge in the field of materials characterization avoiding investments in expensive analytical equipment and personnel. We actively cooperate with various industries and institutes in the field of method development, quality control, product research and trouble shooting. Typical sample materials comprise food and drugs, synthetic human bone, nasal sprays, membranes, coatings, adsorbents, but also catalysts, pigments, and concrete.

POROSITY MEASUREMENTS

Porosity measurements mainly include gas adsorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry.

Physical gas adsorption is used for characterization of porous and non-porous materials; the BET surface area is often used as a first descriptor of the materials' properties. In addition, this technique allows assessment of the pore volume and pore size distribution in order to make a more detailed analysis of the textural properties that are responsible for the surface area. The use of different gasses enables accurate determination of these properties for low surface area materials as well as porous materials exhibiting pores in the range of 0.5nm - 100nm.

In case of chemically active surfaces, chemical gas adsorption can be applied to quantify the active metal surface area and its dispersion on the support material. From a more applied perspective, adsorption studies of water and organic vapours can provide information on the behaviour of solid samples when exposed to such conditions.

Mercury intrusion porosimetry is capable of covering a broad range of porosity and accordingly has proven to be a very versatile technique for investigation of various pharmaceutical samples, e.g. bone substitutes. The porosity available in most bone graft materials can be adequately analyzed by this technique, allowing pore sizes from the lower nm-range up to approximately 900µm to be determined fully quantitatively. Imaging techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) can be used to provide complementary morphological information.

PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE

Particle and droplet size are basic features that influence the properties and performance of powders, emulsions, suspensions, droplets, aerosols and sprays. Size and size distributions are important in various areas such as: medicine and spray effectiveness, atmospheric aerosol dispersion, ceramic and alloy properties, catalyst performance, crystal growth, contamination of soil and liquids, wastewater management, paint performance, emulsions stability and others.

A variety of techniques for material research and method development enables determination of particle sizes in the nm up to mm-range. Forward light scattering (laser diffraction) is especially suitable for samples with a broad or bimodal distribution and for information on size trends in series of samples. Materials can be characterized in a broad particle size range and dispersion can be made in water, organic liquid, as well as in air. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy can be useful for visualization of the sample in order to detect size and shape effects or to obtain a better understanding of the morphological features.

The techniques are suitable for pharmaceutical applications e.g. powdered active drugs and additives, emulsions, liposomes, spray nozzles, metered dose inhalers and nebulizers.

CLIENT'S BENEFITS

Contracting Delft Solids Solutions circumvents costly investments in analytical equipment and the hiring of dedicated staff with expertise in the field of porosity and particle science. Cooperation with Delft Solids Solutions offers access to experts and expensive analytical equipment and allows development of new methods. The investigations performed and results provided comply with customer requirements.

Short term solutions can be the access to new technology and coping with fluctuations in demand of available in-house services, whereas the long term benefits are decreasing overhead costs and having the opportunity to advance projects of lower priority. Delft Solids Solutions is committed to developing long-term relations with their clients. We work in close cooperation with several academic institutions, which in turn is responsible for a high level of expertise.