Brookfield Engineering provides viscosity measurement and control devices for the pharmaceutical industry. The company has more than 80 years of business experience.
Viscosity measurement devices for pharmaceuticals
Brookfield supplies viscometers, rheometers, texture analysers and powder flow testers.
A rotational method of viscosity measurement provides complete flow curve characterisation for pharmaceutical materials.
Texture analysers assess the strength and durability of tablets and capsules, as well as syringes and inhalers.
Powder testers predict the flowability of powder in gravity discharge from bins, which is important in tablet manufacturing.
Quality, affordability, ease of use, and customer service are why manufacturers continuously use Brookfield’s equipment in quality control and R&D departments.
Accurate viscometers for complete flow curve characterisation
Understanding rheological characteristics of materials is valuable in predicting its pourability such as cough syrup, its performance in a dipping or coating operation, and the ease with which it may be handled, processed, or used.
The interrelation between rheology and other product dimensions can make the measurement of viscosity the most convenient way of detecting changes in colour, density, stability, solids content and molecular weight.
Brookfield’s range of viscometers and rheometers are popular worldwide due to their ease of use, flexibility, reliable performance and quality of service.
All viscometers are accurate within ±1% of the range and have reproducibility within ±0.2%.
Test results can be duplicated anywhere in the world when the same model instrument is used.
Texture analysis is primarily concerned with the measurement of mechanical properties of a product, as they relate to its sensory properties detected by humans.
Texture analysers for measurement of mechanical properties
Texture analysers perform this test by applying controlled forces to the product and recording its response in the form of force, deformation and time.
Brookfield’s range of texture analysers use uniaxial compression and tension forces in combination with a selection of probes, grips and fixtures to test a wide variety of pharmaceuticals.
Most tests aim to imitate conditions imposed on products during manufacture, handling, consumption and use.
Characterising physical properties of products in such an analytical manner provides real insight, and can be invaluable towards maintaining consistent, high-quality manufacturing, while minimising cost.
Under the influence of gravity, liquids tend to have a horizontal surface, while powders exhibit a structure, due to internal friction and cohesion.
This allows powders to form piles, with angles relative to the surface on which they are placed.
Powder flow tester to measure flow behaviour of bulk solid materials
Brookfield offers powder flow testers that measure the flow behaviour of bulk solid materials that have a top particle size of 2mm.
At least 90% of the sample should consist of particles less than 1mm in diameter. Powders with larger particles can still be characterised effectively by sieving material at 1mm and testing the fines.
Powders do not change flow behaviour when subjected to variable shear rates at ambient conditions, while most liquids do.
The relationship between compressive stress applied to consolidate the powder and the strength it obtains is the measurement of the powder flowability, also known as flow function.
