Game between domestic and foreign laser particle size analyzers

In industrial and agricultural production and research, many raw materials and products are in the form of powder, and powder plays a decisive role in production. Powder particle size distribution can affect the quality and performance of the product. Therefore, in the powder industry, effective control and measurement of powder particle size distribution is important for improving product quality, reducing energy consumption, controlling environmental pollution, and protecting human health. significance.

Particle size testing instrument is a kind of instrument that uses physical method to test the size and distribution of solid particles, and it is widely used in the fields of architecture, coating, petroleum, medicine, environmental protection, food and so on. Particle size analyzer according to the test principle is divided into settlement type particle size analyzer, settlement balance, laser particle size analyzer, optical particle counter, resistance particle counter, particle image analyzer and so on. Among them, the laser particle size analyzer is a new type of particle size testing instrument that uses a laser as a detection light source. Because of its high test speed, wide test range, good repeatability and authenticity, and easy operation, it has been used in powder processing, application and research. The field has been widely used.

The nano-particle test technology designed according to the principle of dynamic light scattering is a new technology and has achieved rapid development in recent years. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), sometimes referred to as photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) or quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS), is primarily used to measure the size distribution of nanomaterials. The dynamic light scattering instrument is mainly used in the submicron and nanometer measurement range. It is a non-invasive, well-known technique for measuring the particle size of submicron-sized molecules and particles. It can detect less than 1 nanometer using the latest technology. Particle size.

1 Overview of the international laser particle size analyzer industry represented by Malvern The production of laser particle size analyzers on the international market is very active, and the products of companies such as Malvern, Beckman Coulter and Brookhaven occupy the major markets, among which Malvern The dynamic light scattering measurement range has been extended to the sub-nanometer range.

Malvern is the earliest advocate of laser diffraction technology. Now laser diffraction technology is not only the basis of the Mastersizer particle sizer used in the laboratory, it is also the core function of professional Spraytec spray particle size measurement system and Insitec series online particle size analyzer.

Malvern's dynamic light scattering technology leads the world, and its products have the following advantages: the measurement is performed in the original environment of the material; the average particle diameter only needs to know the viscosity and refractive index of the solution; the sample preparation is simple or no preparation is needed and can be directly Measurement of high-concentration turbidity samples; particle size measurement with particle size <1 nm; particle size measurement of molecules with molecular weight <1000 Da can be performed.

This year, Malvern Instruments of the United Kingdom introduced a new generation of Zetasizer series nanometer granularity through comprehensive technological innovation and system optimization. The product uses breakthrough innovative technologies in the optical transmission system, signal processing technology and software design, and incorporates a number of patented technologies such as the new generation PALS M3, NIBS backscatter and folded capillary cell design, making it sensitive and stable. The revolutionary improvement of the sex and detection range, the maximum size range of 0.3nm ~ 10μm, a variety of important measurement indicators also reached an unparalleled height. It has been widely used in many fields such as nanomaterials, life sciences and medicines, and has become an indispensable and most effective analytical system for scientific research and quality control.

Why did Malvin lead the particle sizer market for decades? Malvern believes that this has a lot to do with listening to customer needs and the development of the company. In addition, Malvern’s accurate grasp of market demand, the serious attitude of customers, and strong support have made Malvern’s market a success. status.

2 Development status of China's laser particle size analyzer 2.1 China's rapid development of laser particle size analyzer China's particle size testing technology research began in the 1970s, and the development of laser particle size analyzers began in the 1980s. Prior to the mid-1990s, domestic particle size testing instruments were mainly based on sedimentation particle size analyzers. Commercial laser particle size analyzers have not yet been put on the market. Domestic laser particle size analyzers all rely on imports. In recent years, the development of the particle size analyzer industry in China has been rapid, and domestically produced particle size analyzer products with independent intellectual property rights and excellent performance have come out. Tianjin University, Jinan University, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and Dandong Institute of Instrumentation have done a lot of work and have made significant breakthroughs in the past ten years, such as the dual-spectrum structure of Tianjin University and two kinds of optics of Dandong Baxter. Structure, Jinan Micron's sample cell, refractive index measurement of South China Normal University, Zhuhai Occident's automatic system, etc.

Quoted from the quote of General Manager Dong Qingyun of Baxter Instrument Co., Ltd., Dandong City: “At present, China's laser particle size testing technology is at a mature stage. Products with independent intellectual property rights and excellent performance continue to come out, with the main performance represented by accuracy and repeatability. The indicators have reached the advanced level of similar foreign products."

Domestic particle size analyzer technology research closely follows the pace of world development. When the domestic laser particle size analyzer companies found that the effective lower limit of the “static light scattering theory” test can only reach 50 nanometers, and they are incapable of working with smaller particles, they began to introduce “dynamic light scattering” technology for nanoparticle testing. With the continuous development of laser particle size analyzer technology in China, there are more and more units that carry out research on dynamic light scattering technology in China. Scholars and graduate students from universities such as Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Jinan University have invested in this research. .

At present, China's Zhuhai Micron Instruments Co., Ltd., Dandong City Baite Instrument Co., Ltd., Jinan Micronanoparticles Technology Co., Ltd. and other companies have received unanimous recognition of the laser particle size analyzer in the market, among them, Dandong Baxter, Jinan Micronano and Dynamic light-scattering laser particle size analyzers from Oxfam in Zhuhai have also been put on the market.

2.2 Domestic laser particle size analyzer excellent product examples 2.2.1 Many domestic enterprises laser particle size analyzer nanometer level China's outstanding achievements in the production of light-related particle size analyzer. For example: Chengdu Jingxin JL-1197 nanometer laser particle sizer reference ISO13320, ISO13321 international standard, photon correlation spectroscopy principle, full-scale Mie scattering test. Can be tested simultaneously in two ways. Make full use of the best measurement range of the two principles to achieve measurement accuracy. The use of photon correlation spectroscopy testing range of 1nm ~ 1000nm. Zhuhai Europe and the United States grams in 2010 on the basis of easy race 20 introduced Easizer30 laser particle size analyzer, fully automated, extremely easy to operate, free from human factors caused by the results of the deviation.

2.2.2 Jinan Micron launched dynamic light scattering nanometer particle size analyzer micronano in 2009 as the leader of Chinese particle testing technology. Since 2006, it has invested a lot of manpower and material resources to carry out important parts of dynamic nanotechnology - correlators In October 2008, CR-128 digital correlator was successfully developed. The delay channel is 128 channels, and the minimum resolution time is only 8 nanoseconds. Breaking the monopoly of foreign manufacturers, opened the door to nanoparticle testing technology.

In 2009, Jinan Micron launched its nanometer particle sizer Winner801 based on the dynamic light scattering principle. This instrument is also the first nanometer particle sizer to adopt the photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) technology. It adopts the high-speed digital correlators independently developed by the company and imported high-performance photomultiplier tubes as the core devices. It has the features of rapidity, high resolution, repeatability and accuracy, and is the preferred product for nanoparticle size determination. The scope of the test has reached 1 to 3500 nm. Recently, Jinan Micron has also optimized and upgraded its original product and launched Winner803. It is currently in trial production and is expected to be launched in the near future.

2.2.3 Dandong Baxter laser particle size analyzer won the recognition of the international market Dandong Baxter through the independent innovation and production and research cooperation, the successful development of domestic and foreign advanced level of laser particle size series instruments. In 2009, Dandong Baxter cooperated with South China Normal University in the dynamic light scattering nano-laser particle sizer project, which created the project that year, successfully developed that year, and put into production that year.

BT-90 dynamic light scattering nano-laser particle size analyzer is the research result of Dandong Baxter's introduction of the research results of South China Normal University and the implementation of industrialization projects with South China Normal University. The particle size of the particle size analyzer is in the range of 1 nm to 9500 nm. The typical errors of accuracy and repeatability are less than 1%, and the measurement accuracy is very high. All other indicators are in line with the international standard ISO-13321.

On April 23, 2010, Dandong Baxter received the CE certification signed by SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance SA), the world's largest certification body based in Geneva, Switzerland, and announced that Baxter Laser Particle Sizer passed the CE certification. Baxter has become China's first CE certified laser particle size analyzer brand.

Comparing domestic and international products, it is easy to see that China's laser particle size analyzer has basically reached the international advanced level. In the new technology dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer, Chinese enterprises are also approaching the international advanced level, and the testing range has reached submicron and nanometer levels. It is only one step away from the most advanced sub-nanometer level in the world.

3 Prospects for the Development of China's Laser Particle Size Analyzer Industry After just a few decades of development, China has not only achieved a “never built” particle size analyzer industry, but also developed into the largest particle size instrument market in the world, and it is also the fastest growing. The most competitive market. The technological progress of domestic products has been rapid, and the main performance of some domestic products has reached or approached the advanced level of similar foreign products. At present, China has been able to produce almost all types of particle size testing instruments. Compared with imported particle size analyzers, domestic particle size analyzers have obvious advantages in price and service. However, there is still a small gap in technical performance, quality management, testing methods, and standardization.

Regardless of the most inconspicuous technological gap, there is no mention of the lack of production methods in China. The foreign instrument production process has achieved specialization and standardization. Foreign instrument manufacturers generally outsource the production of components and components, implement quality objectives management on component and component suppliers, and the whole production process is only the assembly of components or components, and strict inspection and testing systems are implemented. Overall quality. Domestic particle size instrument manufacturers generally perform assembly, commissioning and inspection at the device level. In addition, the quality management system and detection methods are not perfect, the failure rate of the instrument is high, and the average time between failures is short.

However, we are pleased to see that the prospects for the development of the particle size analyzer industry in China are considerable. At present, the four major brands in China: Zhuhai Ouagaike, Dandong Baxter, Chengdu Jingxin, and Jinan Micronano accounted for 80% of the domestic market share. This is the biggest affirmation of domestically produced granularity instruments.

It is worth mentioning that the development of China's particle size analyzer occupies a unique advantage. First, domestic particle size analyzers rely on China's most dynamic demand market. Enterprises can grasp the pulse of market development, and the market is relatively stable, which is a powerful backing for corporate development. Second, China has a strong R&D team and a strong sense of innovation in manufacturing enterprises, and can constantly improve its own technical and other deficiencies. Third, at present, imported particle size testing instruments have established numerous marketing and service organizations in China, which facilitates the exchange of technologies between China and international advanced particle size analyzer manufacturers.

In the arena of the development of the international particle size analyzer, one can't expect the opponent to stop and only accelerate oneself forward to take the initiative. We believe that in the future, China's particle size testing industry will continue to improve in terms of technology, performance, quality, and service, and the granular instrument market will develop in a healthy and stable manner. The era of domestic laser particle size analyzers is approaching.