Waters Showcases New TA Innovations and Biopharma System at Pittcon 2019

Waters Corporation showcased a range of new TA Instruments innovations and introduced the BioAccord System, a new liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry solution, at Pittcon 2019 in Philadelphia, PA.

The new TA Instruments included the Discovery Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA) 450, a Rheo-Raman capability for the Discovery Hybrid Rheometer, and a High Sensitivity Pressure Cell for the ARES-G2 Rheometer.

The TMA instrument gives scientists and engineers valuable information about the mechanical behavior of materials by precisely measuring dimensional changes of materials from -150 °C to 1000 °C. The TMA offers extreme sensitivity to temperature as well as reproducibility of results. It is outfitted with a range of fixtures and handles virtually all sample configurations for testing in expansion, compression, flexure, and tension modes, according to the company. Operation is simplified with ease-of-use features, such as a new app-style touch screen interface with One-Touch-Away functionality and TRIOS software.

“High performance materials require high performance measurements. Our new products reflect our unwavering commitment to innovate and develop powerful new tools for materials scientists,” said Terry Kelly, senior vice-president of Waters and president of TA Instruments, in a March 19, 2019 company press release. “The combination of TA Instruments and Waters can uniquely meet our customers’ demands to characterize both chemicals structure and materials property. Today’s product introductions reinforce our innovation differentiation based on performance, precision, and versatility, supporting a wide array of applications and measurements.”

“[The] Discovery TMA 450 provides information about material’s coefficient of linear thermal expansion, shrinkage, softening, and glass transition temperatures. Advanced testing capabilities on the Discovery TMA 450 includes TA’s leading Modulated TMA for the highly efficient separation of simultaneous expansion and contraction of a material, Dynamic TMA for viscoelastic properties by small amplitude, fixed-frequency sinusoidal deformation, and Creep/Stress Relaxation for viscoelastic behavior under transient conditions. The TMA 450 is particularly useful for measuring these material properties locally, especially in manufactured components or assemblies where compatibility of materials is paramount,” said Kadine Mohomed, thermal product manager, TA Instruments, in the press release.

The new Rheo-Raman accessory for the Discovery Hybrid Rheometer (DHR) product line combines a Raman spectrometer with the DHR, which enables simultaneous collection of rheology and Raman spectroscopy data. This combination allows for direct correlation between flow characteristics and the unique spectroscopic fingerprints of each material, including information about its chemical and morphological structure.

“Rheology is used to characterize material flow properties such as viscosity and viscoelastic parameters that are important predictors of processing behavior, product performance, and consumer perception. Raman spectroscopy is a light-based molecular spectroscopy technique that reveals chemical bonds and molecular structure,” said Russell Ulbrich, vice-president of product management, TA Instruments, in the press release. “The in-situ combination of these important techniques will enable scientists to develop a deeper understanding of how chemical structure drives material properties, and how macroscopic deformations can have implications at the molecular level. This will drive deeper understanding and better product development in markets including plastics, electronics, foodstuffs, and personal care products.”

The DHR Rheo-Raman Accessory integrates with an iXRTM Raman Spectrometer from Thermo Fisher Scientific to provide a turnkey system for spectroscopic investigation of materials.

The new High Sensitivity Pressure Cell for the ARES-G2 Rheometer enables scientists to perform sensitive viscoelastic measurements under controlled atmospheric pressure and temperature and, for the first time, gain detailed understanding of complex fluid behavior in complex environments.

“Many materials are processed or used at temperatures that are near or above their atmospheric boiling point; applying elevated atmospheric pressure is an effective way to suppress this boiling,” Ulbrich continued in the release. “While pressurized devices for rheometers are relatively common, existing devices employ mechanical bearings that impede measurements of very low viscosity fluids. This is especially true for accurate determination of viscoelastic properties that describe a material’s elasticity, ability to support dispersed phases, and many other traits that are important to industrial suitability and consumer perception. Such conditions are especially important in the fields of oil recovery and food processing.”

The BioAccord System

The BioAccord System is a purposefully designed liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry solution that expands access to high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry capabilities to more scientists.

"Following a successful launch of the new BioAccord System, we are excited by the reactions of our customers," said Jeff Mazzeo, vice-president, Waters, in the company press release. "Initial feedback has confirmed the need to enable more scientists in more locations to generate high-quality time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In addition to its ease of operation, customers have been impressed with the ease of set-up of the BioAccord System, including the industry-first system integration testing and its compact size given its analytical power."

Pittcon ran from March 17–March 21, 2019 in Philadelphia, PA.

Sourc: Waters