Bettersize BeScan

What BeScan Lab Provides? 

• lnstability index (l_us)
• Mean particle size
• Hydrodynamic analysis
• Radar chart for regional l_us
• Temperature trend testing
• Particle migration rate

Why You Need It? 

From Raw Materials to Finish

BeScan Lab plays a crucial role throughout the product lifecycle, supporting formulation, production, and pre-use stages. It enables formulation optimization, quality control during manufacturing, investigation into optimal transportation and storage conditions, and research on redispersibility

1. Research and development

Ensure excellent dispersibility and uniformity through raw material selection.

2. Production and quality control

Optimize production processes, including method, time, and temperature, to enhance efficiency.

3. Storage and transportation

Evaluate formulation stability under varying environmental conditions, observing destabilization, and predict shelf life.

4. Pre-use treatment

Study the reversibility of destabilization and compliance with usage standards.

Features & Benefits

Non-destructive stability analysis for various dispersions

• Non-contact, non-dilution, non-shearing 
• Sample volume fraction up to 95%
• Particle size measurement range from 0.01 to 1,000 μm

Fast and direct stability measurement

• The high-performance LED and ultra-sensitive detectors, with a 20-micron scan step, allow real-time monitoring and capture of subtle variations 200 times faster than the naked eye
• Temperature control up to 80 °C to accelerate destabilization

Qualitative and quantitative stability results

• Identification of various unstable phenomena, such as creaming, sedimentation, flocculation, coalescence, and phase separation
• Quantification of destabilizations and study of kinetics

Advanced Measurement Principle 

Static Multiple Light Scattering (SMLS) is employed to characterize the stability of dispersions. Within BeScan Lab, a setup comprising two detectors and an LED light source ascends along the sample cell to conduct sample scanning. In the case of concentrated samples, the backward detector is employed to detect backscattered signals, while for diluted samples, the forward detector is utilized to detect transmitted signals.

Versatile Applications 

• Agrochemicals

Evaluate the stability of pesticide formulations to predict shelf life and ensure the consistent performance of suspension systems.

• Battery and Energy

Test the stability of electrode materials and electrolytes, crucial for enhancing battery performance and lifespan.

• Ceramics

Analyze the stability of ceramic slurries and monitor the stability of glazes and pigments, ensuring reliable production processes.

• Home and Personal Care

Ensure product stability in cosmetics, lotions, creams, and other formulations for reliable performance.

• Food and Beverage

Test the stability of food products, from milk to sauces, and assess the dispersibility of food powders to maintain product quality.

• Petrochemicals

Monitor and ensure the stability of oil products, providing critical insights into the long-term performance of lubricants and the behavior of polymers in oil.

• Pharmaceuticals

Conduct stability testing for medicinal formulations, assess long-term drug stability, and analyze biomacromolecule aggregation to ensure product efficacy.

• Paints, Coatings and Inks

Measure the stability of coatings and inks, and evaluate the dispersion of pigments and dyes for uniform product quality.

Static Multiple Light Scattering  

Static Multiple Light Scattering (SMLS) is an optical technique used to directly characterize native concentrated liquid dispersions. This technique emits light into the sample, where it is scattered multiple times by particles or droplets before being detected.

BeScan Lab applies SMLS using an 850 nm LED as light source, with detectors set at 0° for capturing transmitted light and at 135° for backscattered light. This setup scans the sample vertically, analyzing the transmitted light for transparent systems, while the backscattered light is ideal for opaque systems.

The signals are collected at 20 μm intervals, which enables precise observation of changes in size (d) and concentration (Φ) of suspended materials.

Signal display

Customized scanning procedures allow presentation of scans with different colors corresponding to different scanning times. The overlap of scans demonstrates how signals diverge from the reference as they vary with height and time. Intuitively, the scans capture local changes that characterize unstable phenomena.

The example illustrates that during sedimentation, the backscattered signals (dBS) undergo a distinctive pattern of change: a decrease at the top and an increase at the bottom, which is attributed to the migration of particles.

Features

• Versatile measurement

No limitations on color or viscosity, and suitable for a wide range of samples from low to high concentrations (up to 95% v/v).

• Non-destructive and in situ 

Measures without preparation, thus preserving the sample’s original characteristics.

• Wide particle size range

Capable of measuring particles from 0.01 to 1,000 μm.

• Applicable to various systems

Suitable for emulsions, suspensions, foams, and other dispersions, providing robust and high-resolution measurements.

Dedicated Software 

for Superior Qualitative and Quantitative Stability Outcomes

Qualitative Analysis – Identification of Destabilisation

BeScan Lab utilises near-infrared light and a precise 20-micrometer spatial resolution to detect early-stage destabilisation phenomena like phase separation, sedimentation, creaming and aggregation (flocculation, coalescence, and coagulation) well before they are visually observable.

1. Flocculation often results in uniform changes in transmitted or backscattered signals across the entire sample height.

• Common in wastewater treatment, electrode slurries, and drilling fluids.

2. Phase separation typically involves evolving interfaces between phases over time.

• Common in paints and coatings, cosmetics.

3. Sedimentation causes a decrease in backscattered signals at the top and an increase at the bottom in opaque samples.

• Common in slurries, pigments, pesticides, vaccines, and body lotions.

4. Creaming in opaque samples enhances backscattered signals while lowering bottom signals.

• Common in milk-based beverages, lipid emulsions, and pesticides.

Quantitative Analysis – Instability Index for Rating Guide

BeScan Lab provides the instability index (I_US), which quantifies the stability of dispersions. The calculation involves summing all signal variations across the entire sample height and over time, capturing all subtle variations within the sample. This facilitates sample comparison, as a greater instability index (I_US) indicates lower stability. An instability index is automatically calculated after every scan using the following formula:

BeScan Lab offers instability indices over time to compare the stability of different samples. A slower increase in the instability index indicates higher dispersion stability, resulting in a flatter curve. Analysing the trend allows for predicting long-term stability.

Time-dependent instability index

1. Phase separation dynamics and mean particle size

Hydrodynamic analysis reveals layer thickness and particle migration rate over time, thereby determining the hydrodynamic mean diameter.

2. Optical analysis and mean particle size variation

Particle size variation analysis is achievable with BeScan Lab, correlating transmitted and backscattered light signals.

3. Temperature trend measurement

Programmable temperature trend measurement up to 80°C, which explores stability under extreme conditions and accelerates destabilisation.

4. Radar chart

Global and regional instability indices for each scanning are illustrated in form of a radar chart, intuitively providing a way to investigate regional stability (top, middle, and bottom).