Balance kits offer fast route to instrument design

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 17, 2005

Versatile microbalance systems are now available in kit form to allow researchers to make considerable savings when constructing specialist analytical equipment.

CI Electronics now supplies its versatile microbalance systems in kit form to allow researchers to make considerable savings when constructing specialist analytical equipment.

Using the CI Electronics components can reduce the expenditure by around one-half, without compromising accuracy and maintaining high standards of reliability, service and support.

The basic building blocks offered are balance heads, controllers, glassware, furnaces and software, with other accessories available to enable the completed system to be tailored to suit the demands of the application.

Typically such equipment is used by researchers working in university laboratories and similar establishments for studying thermal analysis, corrosion, chemisorption, decomposition, surface/interfacial tension and magnetic susceptibility.

In addition, OEMs often incorporate the CI microbalance system within their own analytical instruments.

CI Electronics believes that its microbalance system delivers performance levels that are at least equivalent to those of competitive systems typically costing twice as much.

The CI microbalance head has a 5g capacity with a resolution of 0.1ug, and it is suitable for use in vacuums down to 10e-6torr.

The microbalances have low uptake of gases and vapours and excellent corrosion resistance.

To complement the microbalance head, most customers purchase CI's Disbal control unit that incorporates a digital data display, serial interface, analogue output, +/-500mg electrical range and a port for a type J, K, N or R thermocouple.

Another popular option is LabWeigh, the Windows-based microbalance software that makes weight change experiments extremely simple to run.

It provides a real-time display of weight changes with a resolution of 0.1ug and temperature changes with a resolution of 0.3C.

Users can select the time interval over which weight, temperature and rate of change is logged from one minute to 60 days.

Alongside the top-quality components, assemblies and software, CI Electronics also provides the high level of technical support and advice, gained from many years experience, that is sometimes necessary when building custom analytical instruments.

Customers can therefore be sure that they will achieve the performance they require, with ongoing backup and a swift response should the need arise in the future.