A new analytic method for characterizing foams

The FOAMSCAN makes it possible to measure :

• the ability of liquids to generate foams, by measuring the increase rate of the volume of the foam formed by sparging from a controlled gas flow,

• the stability of foams, by measuring the variation of their volume and drainage rate versus time.

FOAMSCAN PRINCIPLE

The user defines the gas flow and the end of sparging (time or foam volume controlled). The foam is created in a glass tube and its height is measured in real time by image processing. The quantity of liquid imprisoned in the foam and the drainage rate are measured in real time from the remaining volume of the liquid phase and from the resistivity of the foam. The following diagram give an illustration of the general profile of a measurement.
 

First, the user can define a set of experimental parameters, such as :

• the nature of the gas,

• the gas flow,

• the end of the sparging phase (sparging time, or volume reached by the foam, or liquid volume consumed by the foam, etc.),

Other protocols are proposed, in which the gas flow is controlled :

• either for maintenaing the foam volume at a fixed end-point,

• or for maintenaing the BIKERMAN index at a fixed end-point.

In addition, our specialists stay at your disposal for programming any other protocol which would provide you a finer characterization of your liquids and the foams they generate.

 

SOME KEY FEATURES OF THE FOAMSCAN

 

• fully automated and computer controlled under Windows,

• small volume of the liquid sample : less than 30 ml,

• gas flow : up to 500 cm3/mn,

• no correction factor,

• friendly instrument and strongly built.

 

These features are not restrictive. Our specialists stay at your disposal for designing any customized instrument.