Product category:
Powder, droplet and particle characterisation
News Release from: Malvern Instruments | Subject: UV Pearl nano sizing
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 October 2006
Zetasizer Nano sizes UV Pearls for skin
protection
The Malvern Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system is proving an essential tool in the production of a unique nano-technology product, helping encapsulate UV filter materials in glass beads
At nano engineering company Sol-Gel Technologies, the Malvern Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system is proving to be an essential tool in the production of a unique product for encapsulating UV filter materials in glass beads The Zetasizer Nano is used to measure the particle size distribution of their 'UV Pearls' product, both for process control and as part of the QC specifications of the final materials
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 15 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Malvern continuous powder particle size analysers
Ferrari Granulati (Verona, Italy), a leading supplier of marble granulates and powders, is using a number of different real-time particle size analyzers from the Malvern Instruments range
Understanding agrochemical spray behaviour
The Arable Group using Spraytec droplet size analyzer from Malvern Instruments to improve understanding of agrochemical spray behaviour.
The system was selected because, of all the instruments evaluated, it gave the most reproducible results across the narrow size ranges required, from 300 nm to 2 microns.
Dr Ofer Toledano, R and D Manager at the Sol-Gel Technologies plant at Bet Shemesh in Israel, explains the importance of controlling particle size: "UV filters are widely used in sunscreens, but can themselves cause skin damage.
Our process encapsulates the UV-filter in a glass bead, retaining its UV protective properties, but preventing direct contact with the skin.
If, on the one hand, the particle size is too large, the sun protection factor is reduced.
If, on the other hand, it is too small, skin penetration may occur".
Production of the UV Pearls entails an emulsification process, followed by encapsulation and dispersion.
The particle size distribution of the dispersion must conform to strict specifications within a narrow range.
Particles larger than 2 microns in diameter may result in non-uniform coverage of the skin, since gaps between the particles will allow UV penetration.
Sol-Gel UV Pearls are marketed by Merck, and are used in a variety of sunscreen products around the world.
The Malvern Zetasizer Nano series simplifies the measurement of particle size, stability characterisation using zeta potential, and molecular weight, for a wide range of dispersions, emulsions and molecules in solution.
It is the method of choice for nano-particle applications from routine colloid size measurements to the investigation of particulates at the leading edge of materials research.
Patented technologies ensure optimum performance for particle size measurement over the range 0.6 to 6000 nm, molecular weight measurement from 1 x 10e3 to 2 x 10e7 Daltons and the zeta potential of particles from 5 nm to 10 um. Request a free brochure from Malvern Instruments ...
• Malvern Instruments: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
