Delft Solids Solutions: where powders reveal their secrets

Powders are everywhere, even if you rarely think about them. They’re in your morning pill, in paint, in animal feed and in the cement under your new kitchen. Yet they behave in anything but a predictable manner. They clump, stick, become airborne and sometimes stubbornly refuse to flow. Fortunately, there is a company that knows exactly how to get them working: Delft Solids Solutions in Wateringen.

Who is Delft Solids Solutions?

Delft Solids Solutions is an independent contract research organisation (CRO) specialising in the physical characterisation of solids, primarily powders and granules. The company has over 40 years’ experience. This experience focuses on the behaviour of bulk powders, particle size and shape, chemical composition, porosity and specific surface area. Clients come from the pharmaceutical, chemical and petrochemical industries, the automotive sector, the food and animal feed industries, and the building materials sector.

Compaction and compression of powders

Anyone who has ever swallowed a tablet has already experienced the results of the compaction and compression of powders. During compression, a loose powder is pressed together under pressure to form a compact whole. That sounds simple, but it is precision work. Every powder reacts differently to pressure. Some materials undergo plastic deformation, others break into smaller pieces, and yet others spring back as soon as the pressure is removed. This explains why tablets sometimes crack or crumble.

By understanding how a powder behaves during compaction, you can prevent production problems before they arise. In the case of ceramics, metal powders, battery materials and construction products too, the way in which a powder is compacted determines the quality of the end product. Delft Solids Solutions therefore examines both the powder and the process, so that the cause of a problem becomes clear.

Porosity measurement

A particle or a compacted product is often less solid than it appears. It is full of tiny voids and channels. Porosity measurement reveals how much of this space there is, how large the pores are and how they are interconnected. This determines whether a medicine dissolves quickly, whether a catalyst works effectively, whether a filter allows liquid to pass through and whether a building material absorbs moisture.

Standard techniques are used for these measurements, such as gas adsorption and mercury porosimetry. These also enable the specific surface area and pore size distribution to be characterised. Delft Solids Solutions offers this analysis for a wide variety of powders, granules and related materials. The results reveal what is happening beneath the surface. This is useful when developing a new product or if an existing product suddenly starts to perform differently.

More than just measurement

The company does more than just carry out analyses. The Academy organises courses and seminars on powder technology, such as ‘Powders & Granulates’, as well as courses on particle size and porosity. Some sessions sold out quickly. Anyone facing a persistent problem can also turn to the consultancy for troubleshooting and problem-solving. In addition, the company is working on innovative projects, such as a portable oxygen generator which it is developing in collaboration with Premox B.V.

Understanding powders, preventing problems

Powders remain unpredictable, but with the right knowledge and measuring equipment, they become much easier to control. Delft Solids Solutions demonstrates that those who truly understand their powder are one step ahead of the competition. Are you struggling with a powder that isn’t performing as it should? Then you now know where to go.