Making Solar Cell Production Greener Malvern Particle Image Analyzer Enables Recycling of Abrasive Slurry
16 December 2008: Malvern, UK: The Sysmex Flow Particle Image Analyzer FPIA-3000 from Malvern Instruments is proving to be the ideal tool for monitoring the deterioration of abrasive slurries used in the wire saw cutting process in solar cell production. Fast, efficient quantitative particle analysis provided by the Sysmex FPIA-3000 enables manufacturers to recycle slurry without compromising final product quality.
In solar cell production for the photovoltaic, semiconductor and microelectronics industries, the main technique for slicing silicon blocks into wafers is multi wire sawing. In order to improve efficiency, reduce production costs and reduce waste, the industry is moving towards recycling of the abrasive slurry used in the wire saw cutting process. To do this it is necessary to carefully monitor the slurry for the presence of unwanted particles that build up during the sawing process and would reduce the quality of the final product. Unwanted solids are separated from the abrasive slurry in a centrifuge so that it can be reused safely, with confidence.
The Sysmex Flow Particle Image Analyzer FPIA-3000 allows particle analysis of slurry samples in real-time. Images of up to 360,000 particles are captured by a CCD camera and statistical results presented in terms of particle size, shape, distributions and particle count. With standard operating procedures, measurements that take just two minutes and with single-click initiation, the Sysmex FPIA-3000 provides high throughput, easy operation and reproducible results.
With the ability to measure materials from 0.8 µm to 300 µm in size and to produce high quality particle images, the Sysmex FPIA-3000 is ideal for characterizing emulsions and suspensions.
The Sysmex FPIA-3000 enables reliable, repeatable and routine characterization of particle size distributions and particle shape distributions using automated imaging techniques.
Particle shape information is generated from the analysis of a large number of particles. Displays of size and shape data are supported by images of all particles to provide further visual understanding of the measurement data. www.malvern.com
About Malvern Instruments
Malvern Instruments provides a range of complementary materials characterization tools that deliver inter-related measurements reflecting the complexities of particulates and disperse systems, nanomaterials and macromolecules. Analytical instruments from Malvern are used in the characterization of a wide variety of materials, from industrial bulk powders to the latest nanomaterials and delicate macromolecules. A broad portfolio of innovative technologies is combined with intelligent, user-friendly software. These systems deliver industrially relevant data enabling our customers to make the connection between micro (such as particle size) and macro (bulk) material properties (rheology) and chemical composition (chemical imaging).
Particle size distribution, particle shape information, zeta potential, molecular weight, chemical composition, and bulk materials properties can all be determined with instruments from the Malvern range. The company's laboratory, at-line, on-line and in-line solutions are proven in sectors as diverse as cement production and pharmaceutical drug discovery.
Headquartered in Malvern, UK, Malvern Instruments has subsidiary organizations in all major European markets, North America, China, Korea and Japan, a joint venture in India, a global distributor network and applications laboratories around the world. www.malvern.com
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Kapler Communications
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USA contact:
Marisa Fraser,
Malvern Instruments Inc.
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Westborough, MA 01581-1042 USA
Tel: +1 508 768 6400
Fax: +1 508 768 6403
marisa.fraser@malvern.com
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salesinfo@malvern.com
