Extend your Texture Analysis capabilities and increase your testing efficiency

Would you like to employ a texture analysis system which provides multiple loading of samples and their subsequent testing with 'walk-away' time for the duration of all tests? 

 

If high volume, repetitive testing is causing a bottleneck in your operation, automating to meet critical deadlines can be a business imperative. An investment in automation can be justified for a number of reasons, all of which directly impact your laboratory's contribution to profit.

 The Automated Linear Indexing System (ALIS) enables the loading of multiple test samples prior to testing and does not require constant supervision by the user during testing. It is integrated seamlessly with a TA.XTplus Texture Analyser with quick and easy set-up and sample mounting.

Texture Analysis in Action: Universal Sample Clamp

Universal Sample Clamp

When penetrating, extruding or cutting a sample during a test it is common that the sample sometimes needs to be held down manually in order to avoid it being lifted up with the withdrawing probe or fixture.  

The penetration of a margarine sample, the cutting of a piece of meat or the backward extrusion of a thick moisturising cream are typical examples when this may occur. 

The resulting measured forces of this occurrence will be displaying the weight of the material (and/or its supporting packaging) being lifted rather than the forces necessary to withdraw from the sample. If lifting of the sample occurs the graph that is obtained will not therefore reflect the entire true textural profile of the sample. 

Texture Analysis in Action: Vickers and Shore Hardness Probe

Vickers testing has been a very widely-used technique for many materials for decades due to simple data analysis and test preparation. 

Many applications demand a tip made from a very hard material such as diamond or sapphire, as the indenter must be significantly harder than the material under investigation. However, stainless steel is suitable for testing many softer materials such as tablets, soap, fruit and vegetables, cheese, chocolate and some polymers.

Traditionally, Vickers hardness is calculated by inputting the indentation diagonals into a standard formula. However, instrumented indentation on a Texture Analyser allows automatic hardness analysis without the use of a microscope. It also enables other parameters such as stress relaxation and elastic-plastic energy ratios to be calculated. 

Texture Analysis in Action: Multi-head Indexing Probe

Multi-head Indexing Probe

The Multi-head Indexing Probe is another application for the Automated Linear Indexing System that allows adhesives to be tested without manual intervention between tests or the need to clean/dry probes in between sample tests.  

This thereby allows for ‘walk-away’ time from testing due to the system being able to automatically index to a new probe after each test. 

The video shown here gives an example of how the Automated Indexing System can operate with this Multi-head Indexing Probe. 

Texture Analysis in Action: New AACC Standard Pasta Blade

A new blade has been developed after extensive work carried out by a set of collaborators to improve the AACC method for cooked pasta quality/firmness measurement. 

Whilst the existing blade (which is in accordance with AACC Standard method 66-50.01) will still be available, this new blade is to be used in accordance with the improved AACC standard method (66-52.01). 

Texture Analysis in Action: the Universal Peel Rig

The UNIVERSAL PEEL RIG (A/UPS) is a flexible solution to peel testing.

Significant improvements have been made to previous designs of peel rig for evaluating the quality and strength of container seals and adhesive bonds. 

The Universal Peel Rig consists of a multi-position platform which is adjustable to allow the container to be held at 0, 45 and 90 degrees; the platform is screwed securely into position on the base of the Texture Analyser to suit the container. 

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Powder Vertical Shear Rig

Anyone who has handled powders has almost certainly come across a clogged hopper, and will know that this is caused by caking, arching or rat-holing. 

To measure the tendency of a powder to show these properties, the main property to consider is the powder’s bulk resistance to the initiation of flow. 

This helps to imitate the consolidation that occurs under the powder’s own weight when the outlet is shut and the feeder is switched off. It is when the outlet is opened and the feeder started again that the blockages can build up.

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Indexable Powder Compaction Rigs

Indexable Powder Compaction Rig (A/IPC0.5)

Many years ago we introduced two variants of Powder Compaction Rig (high tolerance and low tolerance) suited to high force applications. 

However, there is a need for powder compaction testing of similar sample volumes at lower compaction forces than the existing methods that require a TA.HDplus Texture Analyser. 

As such, we have developed two low force powder compaction fixtures – offering a choice of volumes for 10 samples – to provide indexable testing up to 50kg.f and to increase  useability and efficiency.

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Indexable Film Support Rig

Film Support Rig

The Film Support Rig is used in conjunction with the TA.XTplus texture analyser to measure the burst strength and resilience of a variety of personal care and pharmaceutical products.

These include oral hygiene strips, plasters, bandages, polymer film, micropore tape, synthetic skin and latex, amongst other ‘Edible Film’ applications finding their way into the food industry.

Many pharmaceutical products, particularly plasters and bandages, are designed to be extremely thin, increasing comfort and ease of storage or use. Other films are designed to dissolve on the tongue.

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Unconfined Yield Stress Rig

Stable Micro Systems have launched the Unconfined Yield Stress Rig for the measurement of powder flowability.

In industries that handle powders on a regular basis it is very important to understand how a powder or granular material responds to pressure. In storage, the weight of powder in a container exerts pressure on the particles at the bottom.

If the powder has good flow behaviour it will not consolidate and will flow out of the silo or hopper without sticking – this is very desirable. The longer a powder is stored for, the more likely it is to form a cake in its hopper and refuse to flow without further assistance.

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Nail Polish Adhesion Rig

The Nail Polish Adhesion Rig and method have been developed by Stable Micro Systems to provide the solution to this assessment requirement. 

During the polish drying time test, a channel 20cm long is filled with polish to a depth of 0.5 mm and wiped level using a glass rod. 

At this point a timer within the Exponent software test sequence is started. This depth is representative of a typical coat of polish on a fingernail; a depth of 0.5mm dries to approximately 0.2mm. This channel is seated on top of the Adhesive Indexing System that has ten detents and so ten test sites are available by simply sliding the platform along. 

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Ring Pull Rig

The Ring Pull Rig was developed to allow manufacturers of food tins and beverage cans to measure the force needed to lift the ring pull and open the container. 

This relatively new development could signal the end of consumer frustration with trying to open metal packaging that is too stiff, or where the ring pull detaches from the lid. 

Understanding and quantifying the force needed to use a ring pull is vital for both packaging manufacturers and their customers to ensure safety, functionality and consumer experience.

Texture Analysis in Action: Safety Screen

For the only Texture Analyser with safety in mind.

A protective screen is sometimes a necessary accessory to protect the operator in the event of sample fragments leaving the test area during a test. 

A Safety Screen is now available for operator protection from such fragments or violent failures of specimens such as hard and brittle materials that may shatter or create projectiles upon failure. In addition, there are instruments used by multiple and/or unskilled operators that may prefer the installation of such a screen for an extra degree of operator safety. 

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Triple Ring Cutting System

There is a range of food products which consist of small, irregular and non-uniform particulate pieces which are solid but are predominantly consumed or handled in bulk, e.g. meringues, popcorn, nut clusters, noodles.  

This range also covers very hard and brittle variable structures which fracture easily when deformed, e.g. cut, snapped, penetrated or compressed. 

The primary issue of these types of samples is that because they are usually of varying sizes or are of non-homogeneous nature comparisons are difficult. They have a high variability from piece to piece within the same batch and require a sample set to be tested.

Texture Analysis in Action: Probe Converters & Adapters

Quick twist probe converter

For texture analyser users who are looking for ways to increase their sample testing throughput and improve the convenience of probe attachment to their texture analyser, we have two innovative options.  

Users can now choose to have a converter fitted to their probes to allow for quick removal and replacement between tests. 

Either ‘magnetic’ or ‘quick-twist’ probe converters are available, in batches of 5. These quick probe removal and replacement options are the first of their kind in texture analysis and support the requirement for test procedures that have efficiency and/or convenience in mind. 

Texture Analysis in Action 2: The Asian Noodle Rig

Extensive work has been carried out at the Wheat Marketing Center in Oregon, USA, by Gary Hou and his team.  

They use a particular type of perspex blade on their TA.XTplus Texture Analyser to measure noodle firmness; this has now become internationally popular and therefore has been included in the Stable Micro Systems probe and fixture range.

The rig can be seen in use here in a video of Noodle firmness testing...

It presents the method for noodle sample preparation of dry and cooked noodles and its testing using the TA.XT2/TA.XTplus Texture Analyser. This method is currently under consideration by the Asian Product Technical Committee of AACC International.  

 

Application advice - comparing cutting/shearing accessories

We are often asked why there are so many different blade fixture options available from Stable Micro Systems.  

Our range of blades vary considerably in size, material, thickness and sharpness. In general they are used to measure the Bite/Cutting Force of products which in some instances can relate to their ‘Toughness’. The following guidelines may help in clarifying the potential use of each.

The Periodic Table of Probes and Fixtures for Texture Analysis

Creating families, grouping by common properties: if Mendeleev managed to do it for the elements, then why not collate the range of Stable Micro Systems products into the instantly recognisable form of a periodic table?

Here you will see how all the currently available probes and fixtures that can be attached to a Texture Analyser can be grouped by test principle: Cutting & Shearing, Puncture & Penetration, Friction, Extrusion, Tension, Peel & Adhesion, Compression – plus Special Attachments and Accessories. 

The Periodic Table of Texture Analysis Probes & Fixtures

Creating families, grouping by common properties: if Mendeleev managed to do it for the elements, then why not collate the range of Stable Micro Systems products into the instantly recognisable form of a periodic table?

Here you will see how all the currently available probes and fixtures that can be attached to a Texture Analyser can be grouped by test principle: Cutting & Shearing, Puncture & Penetration, Friction, Extrusion, Tension, Peel & Adhesion, Compression – plus Special Attachments and Accessories. 

Texture Analysis in Action: Alphabetical Attachments Index

Over the past year or so, our Texture Analysis in Action blog posts have brought together information from our Applications Directories and other sources, along with videos of the tests in progress, to give a detailed overview of our test attachment range.

Now you can access these posts individually, by clicking on the links below.

You can of course also filter any other blog post series which may be of interest to you, by using the Filter by Label facility.

Why not bookmark this page, so that you can refer to these posts at your convenience in future?

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