Recent revisions of two popular e-books from Freeman Technology offer clear, expert advice for those looking to invest in powder testing technology.

‘Choosing a Powder Tester’ reviews the technology available and has been updated to include recent innovations such as uniaxial powder testing. ‘The Value of Powder Testing’ considers how test data deliver an economic return and now extends to assessment of the benefits of real-time measurement. Complemented by ‘An Introduction to Powders’, a primer on powder behaviour, both e-books are full of useful information for anyone looking for guidance in this industrially important area. All three e-books are freely available for download at: http://www.freemantech.co.uk/_ebook/

Powder testing techniques range from the simple to the sophisticated with the cost of a tester running up to tens of thousands of pounds. Understanding the strengths and limitations of different techniques and testers is therefore essential when it comes to choosing one that cost-effectively meets requirements. Powder testers vary significantly in terms of their ability to deliver data that is relevant and sufficiently sensitive to solve the problems regularly encountered when dealing with powders, whether in R&D or manufacturing.

‘Choosing a Powder Tester’ covers the majority of testing techniques in routine use including all USP methods. The latest edition includes avalanche methods and uniaxial testing, a technique advanced by Freeman Technology that ranks powder flowability in an analogous way to shear cell testing but using a simpler more direct method. The e-book includes a brief description of the principles underpinning each technique along with a discussion of strengths and limitations, providing the information needed to make a choice that is well-matched to individual requirements.

The results of powder testing can include faster progress in R&D, secure identification of a cheaper raw material, effective troubleshooting of a process problem and/or higher product quality. All such gains are associated with tangible economic benefits. The Value of Powder Testing explains how to estimate the payback on testing, with the latest edition including an example study based on the utilisation of in-line powder flow monitoring, as exemplified by the Lenterra Flow Sensor System, for which Freeman Technology is the exclusive worldwide distributor.

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