Novel Test Regime Helps In Specifying Low-Friction Materials Of Construction For Pharmaceutical Powder Processing Plant

Materials scientists from Freeman Technology present work with Harro Höfliger at 2009 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In a poster presentation at the 2009 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition (8-12 November 2009; Los Angeles, USA), materials scientists from Freeman Technology will describe collaborative work with machinery manufacturer Harro Höfliger. The joint development project was established to address the challenges of specifying low-friction materials of construction for pharmaceutical powder processing plant. Using the Freeman Technology FT4 Powder Rheometer to test a variety of materials supplied by Harro Höfliger, new methods have been developed for the consistent measurement of Wall Friction Angle (a term that describes the interaction between a powder and the wall material) for low friction surfaces.

Low-friction materials allow powders to flow easily through the process with minimal residue and also give process designers considerable flexibility with respect to equipment wall and valley angles to promote mass flow. Historically, however, WFA measurement reproducibility has been poor for low-friction materials and a significant improvement in testing methodologies is long overdue.

The FT4 is a universal powder tester - three instruments in one, combining patented blade methodology for measuring flow energy with a range of shear cells, wall friction modules and other accessories for measuring bulk properties.

The sensitivity of the FT4 in evaluating the force and torque on the powder/test material combination, and the ability of the system's control software to automatically detect a steady state, are the keys to achieving the reproducible results necessary for low-friction materials.

Full details of the work can be viewed in Poster W5358 exhibited on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 from 1 pm to 5pm in West Exhibit Hall A. The FT4 will be on display in Los Angeles at the Freeman Technology Booth # 1651, where the company's specialists will be available throughout to discuss individual powder testing requirements.

About Freeman Technology
Freeman Technology is a specialist company pioneering the measurement and understanding of powders and their flow properties. Founded in 1989, the company developed the novel, patented technology that forms the core of its Powder Rheometer system at its design and manufacturing centre in Worcestershire, UK where all manufacturing takes place in an ISO 9001:2008 accredited environment. The FT4 Powder Rheometer is a universal powder tester that provides three complementary approaches in a single instrument: measurement of bulk properties including permeability, bulk density and compressibility; shear property determination with automated shear cells; and dynamic flowability using patented methodology. In April 2007 the company received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation.

Freeman systems are installed around the world in a diverse range of industries. Applications range from optimising new formulations and improving the efficiency of manufacturing processes to the establishment of QC criteria for raw materials, intermediates and final product.

SOURCE: Freeman Technology Ltd