Application Spotlight- Mylar Sheet Testing

The Application:
ITW Deltar manufactures components for automotive interiors and bodies, including seat components like headrest guides, seat release levers, seat heaters, seat occupant sensors, and child seat anchor & seat belt covers. One of the processes used is injection molding.

Aluminum plate for testing

One of the materials used in production is mylar, in the form of mylar impregnated sheets, which require testing to ensure the sheets maintain the required properties. In this testing process, the sheet is heated in a 400° oven, removed from the oven, partially cooled by ambient air, and then placed on an aluminum plate for testing to be conducted at 20°C.

The Solution:
To regulate the temperature of the aluminum plate, a PolyScience Benchtop Chiller (part number MM71MX1A110C) circulates cooling fluid. In order to ensure proper testing, it is important that the aluminum plate maintains the required temperature. Therefore, the MM71MX1A110C, with its small foot print (20 x 10 x 17″ – L x W x H), temperature stability of ±0.1°C, and temperature range from
-5° to +50°C, was the perfect choice.

For more PolyScience solutions to your temperature control applications, click here.

Application Spotlight – Glove Boxes

The Application:
Glove boxes are specialty enclosures that allow tight control over various experimental conditions to maintain temperature, humidity and process gas while protecting the experiment from operators, or vice versa, depending on the application. They also allow for the introduction or removal of equipment and samples.

MBraun, one of the world’s largest glove box manufacturers, introduced a glove box that was suitable for destructive physical analysis. This particular model featured oxygen and water vapor sensors to maintain levels of these gases.

The Solution:
To cool off these gases and provide the ability for low temperature applications, or those below ambient, requires the use of a chiller – and PolyScience has the perfect chiller to meet and exceed MBraun’s needs – our 6000 Series Chillers.

Our 6000 Series has a sleek, modern look and a footprint small enough to seamlessly integrate it within the glove box workstation. Our patented Cool Command™ advanced refrigeration technology allows for precise and reliable temperature control within very small tolerances – a must have for the complicated and sometimes dangerous applications MBraun’s customers perform on a daily basis.

For more on the 6000 Series Chiller, and other PolyScience products, click here.

Application Spotlight – Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

The Application:
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical technique. It looks at the difference in heat required to maintain the same temperature in a furnace with a sample and a reference. The temperature is altered based on reactions occurring in the sample furnace.

DSC has a wide range of applications, from drug analysis, thermal analysis of candy and analysis of polymer materials.

For the thermal analysis of candy, the differential scanning calorimeter was used to measure the glass transition of starch syrup, during both heating and cooling. DSC measurement also demonstrates the melting and crystallization of components within candy.

Throughout this process, the temperature of the furnace is very important. Therefore, cooling is required.

The Solution:
PolyScience offers Immersion Probe Coolers, allowing the cooling of the DSC furnaces. Primarily, the IP-100 and IP-80 are utilized in these types of applications.

The IP-100, designed to run at maximum cooling, has a low end temperature of -100°C. In addition to being well-suited for DSC, the Immersion Probe Coolers are also excellent for trapping applications, freeze drying and rapidly cooling small volumes of liquids.

Select Immersion Probe Coolers provide a selection of probe options, including rigid and flexible cold fingers.

For more on Immersion Probe Coolers, and other PolyScience products, click here.

Chillers and External Tanks

Recently we have had questions about using a PolyScience chiller for temperature control of an external tank.  Here are some options for doing this:

Option One
You can create a cooling coil for the inside or outside of your tank through which the heat transfer can occur. The coil will act as a heat exchanger for your external tank. The coil can be made of any material with good heat transfer properties. It may be wrapped around the outside walls of the tank, looped across the bottom of the tank or formed into a coil which can be submerged in the tank. If the coil is on the outside of the tank, insulation will help to pervent heat gain or loss.

Whether the coil is inside or outside the tank, it is important to have circulation inside your tank to ensure uniform temperature by moving the fluid past the cooling coil. A mechanical stirrer or submersible pump may be used.

Since this is a closed circulation loop, you will not need to make changes to the chiller settings for it to work.

Option Two
A second, popular, option is to place your tank at least two feet above the chiller. Connect tubing between the chiller and the tank. Be sure the line from the tank to chiller inlet port is as straight as possible to allow maximum gravity flow back to the chiller. If there are bends or dips, it will slow the return.

Since the pump will push out more fluid than the gravity feed will return to the chiller, you will need to install a ball valve to regulate the outlet flow. You may also need to adjust the low flow setting to prevent low flow alarm from occurring.

Once all of this is in place, you will need to work with the system until you balance the outlet and inlet sides. You may also need to continue to fill the chiller reservoir. As it gets empty, continue to add fluid until the fluid starts returning to the reservoir. If the chiller is allowed to run with no or very low fluid, the reservoir and/or pump may be damaged.

Option Three
If you want open loop circulation to your external tank (meaning not using a cooling coil), then we recommend purchasing a chiller without a reservoir. The external tank becomes the reservoir so you do not need to worry about low fluid settings and alarms on the chiller.

In Conclusion:
If you know you will be running your chiller with an external tank, please tell your distributor or PolyScience rep, so we can ensure you purchase the best chiller configuration for your needs.

One more note; it is difficult to make all the changes to remove the reservoir once you have purchased it. If your needs change, and it would be helpful to have the reservoir removed, contact your distributor or PolyScience rep.

Application Spotlight- Cooling Beverages From Production Lines

The Application:
We’ve discussed beverage testing before, and here’s another example: Cooling bottled beverages from off of a production line so QC testing can be performed. PolyScience was approached by one of our distributors for help determining which product would be best suited for this application.

The Solution:
PolyScience has many products utilized in cooling processes. From circulating baths to chillers, we knew we’d be able to find something to fit this customer’s needs.

Based on further information from our distributor, we were able to determine that our MX07R-20 would provide the reservoir dimensions, cooling capacity, temperature range and stability needed.

MX07R-20
Temperature Range: -20° to 135°C
Temperature Stability: ±0.07°C
Reservoir Size: 7 liters
Working Access: 6.18 x 5.59 x 5″ (15.7 x 14.2 x 12.7 cm)
Overall Dimensions: 21.3 x 8.7 x 25.4″ (54.1 x 22.1 x 64.5 cm)

Application Spotlight -Respirometers

The Application:
Respirometry is a general term encompassing a number of techniques for obtaining estimates on the metabolism rates of living plants, animals, tissues, cells and microorganisms. Understanding how metabolism functions in healthy organisms is important, especially when exploring metabolic errors and their causes.

A respirometer is a device which is used to measure the degree and nature of “respiration”; the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, as part of their metabolism. The production of biological gases is measured in the anaerobic mode and oxygen uptake is measured in the aerobic mode.

The environment inside the respirometer is tightly controlled and monitored to collect data without injuring the organism being studied. Once a baseline has been established, or by using known information about that organism, researchers can see how changes in environmental or genetic factors of genetically modified organisms impact the respiration. Environmental changes may include changes in temperature, pressure, light, nutrition and air mixtures or chemical and biological additives.

Respirometers are often used by research scientists, water companies and wastewater treatment plants. There are different types (whole animal, cellular level) for different fields (aquatic, small mammal, plant) and purposes (biodegradation assessments, forensic evaluations, compost research, toxicity screening studies, etc).

The Solution:
PolyScience is a proud supplier of constant temperature equipment to several respirometer manufacturers. They use the PolyScience Model 210 Heating Circulator (temperature range: ambient to +70°C; stability: ±0.2°C) with their anaerobic respirometers and our Model 5206M, 1/4HP Chillers with heating option and magnetic centrifugal pump (temperature range: -10° to +70°C; stability: ±0.1°C) with their aerobic respirometers.

For more information, visit polyscience.com or contact us.

Pittcon 2013 Recap

With another Pittcon under our collective belts, we’d like to take this time to share some of the things we love about Pittcon.

Pittcon is a great place to network with new and existing customers. At the PolyScience booth, we’re often demonstrating product features to our distributors, as well as interested potential customers. This face-to-face time is irreplaceable. When so much communication takes place via email or on the phone, it’s nice to get out of the office and actually meet the people we correspond with so frequently.

Receiving feedback during the show provides us with an edge, too. We’re educated on customer “likes” (and “dislikes”), as well as new applications for our products. All of this is information that we can take with us as we continue to help other customers select our products. We appreciate the open line of communication as it allows us to continue to supply innovative product.

So whether we’re educating attendees, or being educated by them, Pittcon is like no other.

And who can forget the apples? Gotta love those, too!

PolyScience Trivia: Pittcon Edition

With another great Pittcon show complete, we thought we’d share some interesting PolyScience/Pittcon trivia. Test your knowledge with these multiple-choice questions.

1. What does PITTCON stand for?
a – Pharmaceutical Industry Technical Training Convention
b – Pennsylvania Industrial Technology Trade Convention
c – Pittman Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Science
d – Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy
e – none of the above

PolyScience’s first Pittcon

2. What was the first year PITTCON was held?
a – 1938
b – 1947
c – 1950
d – 1976
e – none of the above

3. What was the first year PolyScience exhibited at PITTCON?
a – 1943
b – 1964
c – 1972
d – 1984
e – none of the above

4. The PITTCON organization is made up of two Societies whose acronyms are:
a – SSP & SACP
b – SAP & SCCP
c - CCCP & STI
d – SSC & SPLC
e – none of the above

5. PITTCON attracts more than _____ attendees from industry, academia and government from 90 countries.
a – 10,000
b – 13,000
c – 17,000
d – 25,000
e – none of the above

6. How many pieces of PolyScience equipment were on display at our booth at this year’s PITTCON?
a – 23
b – 26
c – 29
d – 32
e – none of the above

Here’s a visual hint for question 6.

Application Spotlight: Metalsmithing

The Application:
Metalsmithing is the process of creating items, like tools or even jewelry, out of metal. In this process, metal is heated, bent or hammered as desired, and then cooled. To cool, the metal is dipped into a vessel containing cold water. 

The Solution:
Because metalsmithing requires cooling the metal, and traditional vessels of water become warm, a refrigerated/heated circulating bath, with external circulation to a reservoir, can allow continuous working by eliminating the need to replace water due to heating. With a circulating bath, the water will maintain the desired temperature, even after metal has been cooled.

Visit us at Pittcon 2013

With so many great companies exhibiting at Pittcon, why should you visit PolyScience?

Meet your rep – If you’re already one of our customers or distributors, it’s a great place to get to meet and know your Sales Rep. While strong relationships are built daily on the phone or via email, nothing can take away the power from having a face-to-face chat.
If you’re not already working with us, stop by to meet the person/people you will be working with in the future. We pride ourselves on our world-class customer service, so stop by to see what it’s all about.

Get answers to your questions – Whether it’s a question about functionality, an application, or a particular process, we’ve got the answer for you. Visit booth 2103 for answers to all your liquid temperature control questions.

Receive hands-on product training – Not only will we answer your questions about liquid temperature control; we’ll help you arrive at the answers, as well. With all the equipment in our booth, we can walk you through the variations within each product line and demonstrate key, innovative features. There’s nothing quite like hands-on time with a product to re-enforce your selling strategy or help you determine which PolyScience product is right for you.

New, never-before-seen product – Introducing new product and Pittcon go hand-in-hand, so stop by the PolyScience booth to see what we’ve got this year. While we can’t disclose too much (it would ruin the surprise!), we can say that what we’ve got will change the laboratory liquid temperature control market for some time.

So, hopefully you’re intrigued: Stop by PolyScience booth 2103 at Pittcon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from March 17th through the 21st. You won’t be disappointed!

See you there!