Powder measurement specialist Freeman Technology is to launch a hopper design software package for the FT4 Powder Rheometer at Powtech 2008 (30 Sep - 2 Oct 2008 in Nuernberg, Germany).
Drawing on the characterisation capabilities of the FT4, the new software package improves access to well-established hopper design methodologies, speeding up and simplifying compilation and interpretation of the required data. A step-by-step guide to hopper design supports the new software, which will become part of the FT4's standard data analysis package.
The two criteria defining the limits of a bin to operate in mass flow mode are outlet size and hopper half angle. Both are calculated using data generated from shear cell, wall friction and compressibility testing. All the required data can be generated simply and easily using the FT4 in a series of fully automated measurements taking approximately two hours.
The FT4 Powder Rheometer delivers comprehensive powder flowability data that can be correlated with processing experience to aid efficient processing and quality control. It provides automated shear testing, dynamic flowability and bulk properties measurements, making it a universal powder tester for formulators, process engineers and QA specialists.