Our team of scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) experts achieves extreme magnifications (up to 1,000,000:1) of surfaces with simply brilliant depth of focus. Thanks to their outstanding equipment and deeply founded know-how, the company's physical-analysis professionals are not only continuously consulted on Sachtleben's own particles, they are also increasingly frequently "hired" by customers for specific tasks. Both internal and external clients benefit from the rare combination of a range of different methods, employing ultra-modern measuring instruments and backed up with the necessary know-how, and all functioning smoothly together in a single laboratory complex.

 

The properties which can be defined in Sachtleben's particle-measurement facilities go well beyond "mere" particle size. Sachtleben's experts can, for example, measure the reflectance of light-scattering specimens using an UV VIS-NIR spectrometer coupled with an integrating sphere, or quantify particle porosity by means of nitrogen adsorption. The methods most routinely used by the SC "particle detectives" include laser diffraction, sedimentation in a centrifugal field, and photon-correlation spectroscopy.

 

In the field of scanning-electron microscopy, Sachtleben's specialists can in many instances also make use of company-developed procedures, giving their services unique attractions. This is true, in particular, of our sophisticated digital image-analysis technique. In correlative microscopy, the use of a range of microscope types (e.g., light, IR, SEM) makes it possible to obtain cumulative information from a single source and thus generate a comprehensive overall picture. Another specialty of our researchers is measurement of photostability and photoactivity. The applications for which Sachtleben particles are used also result in further emphases in these teams' work, such as the determination of particle-size distribution in granulated polymers and polymer fibers, and also automated light-microscopy detection of oversize particles.

 

In addition to conducting research on behalf of Sachtleben and providing support for the company's production processes, these experts - when they have time! - also find answers to questions on the use of TiO2, ZnB and BaSO4 particles in international customers' product formulations. These activities have now evolved to the point where major plant-engineering companies use Sachtleben's special analyses as the basis for "fine-tuning" of new production facilities - convincing proof of our experts' impressive track record, and a stimulating future challenge for the SC physical-analysis team.