GB2280749A - Measurement of droplet size of a photographic dispersion - Google Patents
Measurement of droplet size of a photographic dispersion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2280749A GB2280749A GB9316465A GB9316465A GB2280749A GB 2280749 A GB2280749 A GB 2280749A GB 9316465 A GB9316465 A GB 9316465A GB 9316465 A GB9316465 A GB 9316465A GB 2280749 A GB2280749 A GB 2280749A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- dispersion
- droplet size
- flow
- measurement
- diverted
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 44
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 title description 10
- 238000004886 process control Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 9
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000003908 quality control method Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000010790 dilution Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000012895 dilution Substances 0.000 description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001493 electron microscopy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000399 optical microscopy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002572 peristaltic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002398 sedimentation field-flow fractionation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004879 turbidimetry Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
- G01N1/38—Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
- G01N15/02—Investigating particle size or size distribution
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
Abstract
For product quality control and process control when producing photographic materials, the droplet size of dispersions or dispersion melts used to produce such materials is measured on-line by diverting a portion of the main flow of the dispersion, illuminating the diverted portion, measuring light after scattering by the diverted portion, and determining the droplet size from the measured light. The diverted flow may be diluted before passing through a flexible transparent tube 302 between fibre optics 308 and 310 held in a block 300. The fibre optics 308 and 310 are connected to an infrared source and a photodetector, respectively. The photodetector produces a signal with a do component dependent on mean turbidity of the dispersion and an ac component dependent on average number concentration and size of the droplets. <IMAGE>
Description
MEASOREMENT OF DROPLET SIZE IN A PHOTOGRAPEIC
DISPERSION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the measurement of droplet size in a photographic dispersion, and is more particularly concerned with carrying out such measurement when on-line.
Background of the Invention
In order to maintain product quality control and process control when producing photographic materials, it is necessary to measure droplet size of dispersions or dispersion melts utilized to produce such materials. This measurement of droplet size gives an indication of the efficiency of use of couplers in the dispersion or dispersion melts.
Such measurement is normally carried out using instruments such as turbidimetry analyzers, photon correlation spectrometers, and disc centrifuges. Techniques including sedimentation field flow fractionation (sfff) and optical and electron microscopy are also used.
Problem to be solved by the Invention
When carrying out the measurement of dispersion droplet size using the apparatus and techniques mentioned above, a sample of the dispersion is removed from the product line for analysis. As this is time-consuming, only a relatively small number of samples are measured, and as a consequence, continuous control of the quality of the process and the product produced therefrom is not possible.
Summary of the Invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of measuring droplet size of a photographic dispersion which can be carried out on-line.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of measuring droplet size of a photographic dispersion during its manufacture, the method comprising the steps of:
diverting a portion of the main flow of the dispersion from the main flow path;
illuminating the flowing sample comprising the diverted portion;
measuring the light scattered by the flowing sample; and
determining the droplet size of the dispersion from the measured scattered light.
Advantageous Effect of the Invention
The above method has the advantage that measurement of droplet size can be carried out online, and this measurement can be used for process control during production of the dispersion itself.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps in the manufacture of a photographic dispersion;
Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating components of apparatus used to determine droplet size of a photographic dispersion; and
Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an analyzer useful in the method according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 1 illustrates a flow chart of the steps in the manufacture of a photographic dispersion.
The steps are as follows:
a) oil-phase materials 10 and gel-phase materials 12 are mixed in a pre-mixer 14;
b) the mixed material is passed to a homogenizer 16;
c) heat is removed from the mixed material in a heat exchanger 18; and
d) the photographic dispersion produced is sent to store 20.
The method according to the present invention diverts part of the dispersion flow to an analyzer 30 which measures the droplet. size in the photographic dispersion which has just been manufactured. -An output signal 32 is produced which gives an indication of the droplet size.
In Figure 2, apparatus for use in carrying out the method of the present invention is illustrated. The apparatus comprises an on-line analyzer 30 connected to receive a portion of the main dispersion flow for analysis at its flow input 34 and produces an output signal 32, as mentioned above, at its signal output 36 which can be recorded on a chart recorder 40. A flow output 38 is provided for the analyzed dispersion.
The main dispersion flow is shown generally at 50. A portion 52 of this flow is diverted and eventually enters the analyzer 30 at its flow input 34 after dilution.
Dilution of the portion 52 occurs in dilution unit 60 so that there is an appropriate ratio of water to dispersion in the range of 10:1 to 60:1 depending on the thickness of material at the point of analysis. Dilution is necessary because analyzer 30 requires an optimum dilution so that the maximum response can be provided. The exact ratio will depend on the dispersion being analyzed. In the arrangement to be described later, the dilution ratio is approximately 30:1.
The dilution unit 60 includes a constant temperature bath 62 which is maintained at a temperature in the range of 500C to 600C. The dispersion has a tendency to set and needs to be kept in a liquid state to mix with the water and then to pass through the analyzer 30. A supply 64 of demineralised water passes through the bath 62 and, after attaining the desired temperature, it is connected to a double peristaltic pump 66.
The diverted dispersion flow 52 enters the dilution unit 60 into a double-walled pipe 68 which is connected to the pump 66. The outer section of the double-walled pipe 68 is also connected to a circulation unit 70 positioned in the bath 62. The circulation unit 70 allows the diverted dispersion flow 52 to attain the desired temperature before being passed through to the pump 66 where the dispersion 52 is combined with the demineralised water from supply 64 as mentioned above. This diluted flow forms the flow input 34 to the analyzer 30.
The analyzer 30 is shown schematically in
Figure 3. It comprises a block 300 which houses transparent flexible tubing 302. The tubing 302 has an internal diameter of lmm. However, tubing having other internal diameters may be suitable according to the particular application.
The diluted dispersion to be analyzed enters the tubing 302 at 304 and leaves at 306. The block 300 also houses two fibre optic elements 308, 310.
Element 308 is connected to a light source, for example, a high intensity infra-red light-emitting diode (not shown) at 312 and element 310 to a photodetector (also not shown) at 314. Element 310 collects the light transmitted through the tubing 302 and passes it to the photodetector for conversion to an output signal.
The flexible tubing 302 is slightly compressed (not shown) to provide a pair of parallel side walls which cuts down unwanted reflections at the tubing/diluted dispersion interfaces. Unwanted reflections are also cut down at the air/tubing interfaces as the tubing is pressed against the ends of elements 308 and 310.
The photodetector converts the light to a voltage which consists of a large dc component, which corresponds to the average transmitted light intensity, and a small fluctuating ac component due to the flowing droplets being illuminated in the tubing 302. The dc component is dependent of the mean turbidity of the dispersion. The root mean square (rms) value of the fluctuating ac component is related to the average number concentration and size of the droplets in the dispersion.
The rate of flow of the dispersion through the analyzer is controlled by pump 66 and lies in a range of 0.5ml/min to l0ml/min. However, a preferred range for the rate of flow is between lml/min and 2ml/min.
Apart from the major advantage of being able to continuously measure droplet size of a dispersion and to use that measurement to control the process producing the dispersion, the analyzer used is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
Furthermore, it is easy to operate in comparison to off-line techniques and apparatus mentioned above.
The method of the present invention could also be used for the on-line measurement and control of emulsions and melts at a range of position in the process.
Furthermore, entrained air bubbles or oily globules may also be detected on-line.
On-line warning of contamination of normally clear solutions in delivery lines can be detected using the method of the present invention. This is achieved by the detection of an increase in particulates or of a change in density.
Claims (3)
1. A method of measuring droplet size of a photographic dispersion during its manufacture, the method comprising the steps of:
diverting a portion of the main flow of the dispersion from the main flow path;
illuminating the flowing sample comprising the diverted portion;
measuring the light scattered by the flowing sample; and
determining the droplet size of the dispersion from the measured scattered light.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the diverted portion is diluted prior to testing.
3. Process control for the manufacture of photographic dispersions using a method according to claim 1 or 2.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9316465A GB2280749B (en) | 1993-08-07 | 1993-08-07 | Measurement of droplet size in a photographic dispersion |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9316465A GB2280749B (en) | 1993-08-07 | 1993-08-07 | Measurement of droplet size in a photographic dispersion |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9316465D0 GB9316465D0 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
| GB2280749A true GB2280749A (en) | 1995-02-08 |
| GB2280749B GB2280749B (en) | 1997-05-14 |
Family
ID=10740163
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9316465A Expired - Fee Related GB2280749B (en) | 1993-08-07 | 1993-08-07 | Measurement of droplet size in a photographic dispersion |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2280749B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1999044033A2 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 1999-09-02 | Microtrac Inc. | Sampling and diluting system for particle size distribution measurement |
| CN104330411A (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2015-02-04 | 东北大学 | Device and method for dynamically observing and simulating behaviors of molten drops in electric slag remelting process |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2071841A (en) * | 1980-03-14 | 1981-09-23 | Kodak Ltd | Measurement of dispersion particle size |
| GB2182432A (en) * | 1985-10-30 | 1987-05-13 | Edmund Miles Rank | Improvements in and relating to apparatus for detecting particles in suspension |
| US4752131A (en) * | 1984-04-04 | 1988-06-21 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Laser-optical arrangement for measuring the degree of dispersion in flowing systems |
-
1993
- 1993-08-07 GB GB9316465A patent/GB2280749B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2071841A (en) * | 1980-03-14 | 1981-09-23 | Kodak Ltd | Measurement of dispersion particle size |
| US4752131A (en) * | 1984-04-04 | 1988-06-21 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Laser-optical arrangement for measuring the degree of dispersion in flowing systems |
| GB2182432A (en) * | 1985-10-30 | 1987-05-13 | Edmund Miles Rank | Improvements in and relating to apparatus for detecting particles in suspension |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| US4752131 is equivilant to EP0157310 * |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1999044033A2 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 1999-09-02 | Microtrac Inc. | Sampling and diluting system for particle size distribution measurement |
| WO1999044033A3 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 1999-12-16 | Honeywell Inc | Sampling and diluting system for particle size distribution measurement |
| CN104330411A (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2015-02-04 | 东北大学 | Device and method for dynamically observing and simulating behaviors of molten drops in electric slag remelting process |
| CN104330411B (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2017-05-10 | 东北大学 | Device and method for dynamically observing and simulating behaviors of molten drops in electric slag remelting process |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9316465D0 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
| GB2280749B (en) | 1997-05-14 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4768879A (en) | Method for measuring the size of objects in a fluid medium | |
| RU2205382C2 (en) | Method and device for quantitative determination of particles in liquid media | |
| US4628204A (en) | Optical method to study the stability of colloidal systems | |
| JPH05501161A (en) | Online determination using colorimetric final point detection | |
| US20020180972A1 (en) | Particle sizing of flowing fluids, dispersion, and suspension | |
| US4908507A (en) | Process and apparatus for the integral optical examinations of damaging mechanical stresses in the bottom-part of bottles and hollow glassware | |
| US3680962A (en) | Contaminant detector comprising means for selectively applying pressure to liquify bubbles | |
| US5919707A (en) | Monitoring of rolling oil emulsions | |
| EP0184269A2 (en) | Fiber optic probe and method for determining the size and/or concentration of materials in suspension | |
| US5557405A (en) | Measurement of droplet size in a photographic dispersion | |
| CA2203922A1 (en) | Optical fiber waist refractometer | |
| NO924335L (en) | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING FIBER LENGTH IN FLUIDS | |
| GB2280749A (en) | Measurement of droplet size of a photographic dispersion | |
| NO174866B (en) | Fluid spreading cell | |
| US6643018B2 (en) | Optical scattering monitor | |
| US6235242B1 (en) | Sample size characterization technique and apparatus for liquid analysis | |
| Boiarski | Fiber optic particle concentration sensor | |
| KR19990014184A (en) | Detection device and method of living sediment forming membrane | |
| US20050124770A1 (en) | Process for the production of polymers | |
| CN108007893A (en) | A kind of photoelectric method and device of quick measurement crude oil water content | |
| EP1161670B1 (en) | Measurement systems and methods for determining component particle concentrations in a liquid | |
| WO2013185621A1 (en) | Endotoxin detection systems and detection methods thereof | |
| CN213398181U (en) | Online water quality detection device | |
| WO2012007542A1 (en) | Optical measurement method and apparatus | |
| WO1997007391A1 (en) | Serum index sample probe |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20010807 |