Micromeritics - Materials Characterization Analytical Instruments and Services

Founded in 1962, Micromeritics is a leading supplier of materials characterization analytical laboratory instrumentation and services. The company manufactures a broad line of automated laboratory instruments that measure physical characteristics of powders and solids for fundamental research, product development, quality assurance and control, production, and process control applications. Measurements obtained include particle size, particle shape, surface area, pore volume, pore size and pore size distribution, material density, catalytic activity, and temperature-programmed reactions.

Micromeritics operates Micromeritics Analytical Services (MAS) and Micromeritics Pharmaceutical Services (MPS), both providing contract sample analyses and consulting services. MAS offers customers a choice of numerous different analytical techniques and dozens of methods for measuring particle size. MPS expands Micromeritics' analytical service capabilities to meet the growing demand for contract services from the pharmaceutical industry.

MPS also offers a comprehensive service program to provide instrument users with method development and method validation. Material characteristics services include: particle size, particle shape, surface area, pore volume, porosity and pore size distribution, absolute density, envelope density, bulk density, tap density, water adsorption, surface energy, catalytic activity, temperature-programmed reactions.

Surface area analyzers

Micromeritics offers a variety of gas adsorption analyzers to fulfill almost any surface area and porosity need. The ASAP® 2020 Accelerated Surface Area and Porosimetry System contains a multitude of data reduction methods and can be upgraded to perform micropore and chemisorption analyses without requiring additional bench space. Adsorption and desorption analyses can be performed with a variety of adsorptives, including vapors.

The new Tristar® II 3020 is an automated, three-station, surface area and porosity analyzer capable of increasing the speed and efficiency of quality control analyses, with the accuracy, resolution, and data reduction to meet most research requirements. It features a krypton option, allowing measurements in a very low surface area range.

Micromeritics' new Gemini® VII series surface area analyzers offer fast, accurate, and reliable surface area and porosity results with a low cost, small footprint, and simplicity of use. Low to high surface area measurements can be performed without requiring exotic gases such as argon or krypton. Micromeritics' confirm 21 CFR Part 11 software is available for these surface area analyzers.

Porosimeters

The AutoPore® IV series porosimeters use mercury intrusion to determine pore size distribution, total pore volume, pore surface area, percent porosity, bulk density, skeletal density, permeability and compressibility.

Particle size analyzers

Since no single particle size measurement technique is ideal for all applications, Micromeritics offers a selection of particle sizing techniques. Utilizing a high-resolution CCD detector containing over three million detector elements to capture the light scattering pattern, Mie theory, and advanced data reduction features, Micromeritics' Saturn DigiSizer® II particle size analyzer automatically determines both organic and inorganic particle sizes ranging from 0.04µm to 2,500µm. Options include fully automated sampling, standard and low-volume sample handling systems and autosampler.

Micromeritics' SediGraph® III 5120 particle size analyzer measures mass by X-ray absorption and particle size by sedimentation in the size range of 0.1µm to 300µm - no modeling is required. Complete particle accountability ensures that the entire introduced sample is accounted for, including any fraction outside the range of the instrument.

Micromeritics' new Elzone® II 5390 particle and cell size / count analyzer utilizes the powerful electrical sensing zone method to determine quickly and accurately the size, number, concentration, and mass of a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials. Automated features include: start-up, run and shut-down routines; blockage detection and clearing; flushing / rinsing; and calibration. Micromeritics' confirm 21 CFR 11 software is available for both the Saturn DigiSizer and Elzone particle size analyzers.

Pycnometers

The AccuPyc® II 1340 pycnometer uses the gas displacement technique to determine absolute volume of solids and powders. The GeoPyc? 1360 pycnometer uses the displacement of a patented DryFlo medium to determine envelope volume of solid materials. Combined with sample mass, material density is also determined by these analyzers. The GeoPyc pycnometer automatically calculates the total pore volume when the skeletal volume is known (as determined by the AccuPyc II 1340) and is nondestructive for most samples.

Particulate Systems - OEM materials characterization instruments

Particulate Systems, a Micromeritics brand, markets an auxiliary selection of OEM materials characterization instruments. Small companies and independent innovators with novel instrument designs benefit from Micromeritics' extensive sales and support network while end users have access to new and exciting technology. Instrument measurements include high-pressure adsorption, dynamic vapor sorption, magnetic traces in materials, activity and selectivity of catalysts, air permeability particle size, and dynamic light scattering particle size.

Particle characterization instruments

Micromeritics has provided material characterization instruments and applications support to most of the world's top industrial companies and academic institutions whose applications include: pharmaceuticals, clays, ceramics, pigments, plastics, catalysts and catalyst support systems, paper coatings, geological cores, and metal powders, to name a few.

With US corporate headquarters in Norcross (Atlanta), Georgia, Micromeritics has an extensive worldwide sales and service network. The company operates direct offices located in the US, the UK, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, China, and Japan. In addition, a specially trained local representative network covering over 65 countries that both sell and service Micromeritics' material characterization instruments serves the company's customers.