BeScan Lab+ – Determination of Dispersion Stability
The BeScan Lab+ is a device for determining the stability of dispersions and formulations using static multiple light scattering (SMLS). Suspensions, emulsions or foams can be analyzed in their original state (up to 95% by volume) and at temperatures from 10 °C below ambient up to 80 °C. The BeScan Lab+ is useful for quality control of various formulations, for example, to optimize storage stability, and also for quantitative analysis of different destabilization phenomena, formulation candidates and process conditions.
BeScan Lab+ - Ensuring Quality and Stability
The BeScan Lab+ provides precise and reliable dispersion stability control, meeting the rigorous demands of various industries. It ensures accurate native-state analysis and enhances the quality and stability of your products by detecting instability long before visual observation is possible, while AI-assisted interpretation helps identify instability mechanisms faster and more consistently.
BeScan Lab+ supports formulation, production, and pre-use stages throughout the product lifecycle. It enables formulation optimization, quality control during manufacturing, investigation into optimal transportation and storage conditions, and research on redispersibility, helping R&D and QC teams compare formulations, batches and stress conditions on an objective basis.
The BeScan Lab+ is designed for precise measurement of dispersion stability, providing critical insights into colloidal systems using non-destructive SMLS profiles, Instability Index (IUS), Homogeneity Index (RSD), particle migration kinetics, in-situ particle size distribution and AI-assisted interpretation.
- Static Multiple Light Scattering (SMLS) technology: Real stability analysis for dispersions with volume fraction up to 95% using synchronized transmission and backscattering detection.
- Non-destructive stability analysis: Non-contact, non-dilution, non-shearing measurement in the sample’s native state.
- Identification of unstable phenomena: creaming, sedimentation, flocculation, coalescence, and phase separation.
- Quantitative and intelligent stability results: IUS, RSD, particle migration kinetics, in-situ particle size distribution and AI-assisted interpretation to support objective formulation ranking.
Versatile Applications in Dispersion Stability Analysis
BeScan Lab+ is a versatile instrument that provides answers to questions related to instability index (IUS), mean particle size, hydrodynamic analysis, radar charts for regional IUS, temperature trend testing, and particle migration rate, applicable across many fields with additional insight from homogeneity assessment, in-situ particle size distribution and AI-supported interpretation.
Agrochemicals
Evaluate the stability of pesticide formulations and suspension concentrates to predict shelf life and ensure the consistent performance of suspension systems.
Battery and Energy
Test the stability of electrode materials and electrolytes, crucial for enhancing battery performance and lifespan by understanding sedimentation, gelation and redispersibility of complex slurries.
Ceramics
Analyze the stability of ceramic slurries and monitor the stability of glazes and pigments, ensuring reliable production processes and consistent high-solid dispersion behavior.
Cosmetics, Home and Personal Care
Ensure product stability in cosmetics, lotions, creams, and other formulations for reliable performance by detecting early creaming, coalescence, phase separation or loss of homogeneity.
Food and Beverage
Test the stability of food products, from milk to sauces, and assess the dispersibility of food powders to maintain product quality and consumer-relevant shelf-life performance.
Petrochemicals
Monitor and ensure the stability of oil products, providing critical insights into the long-term performance of lubricants and the behavior of polymers in oil, crude oil emulsions and drilling fluids.
Pharmaceuticals
Conduct stability testing for medicinal formulations, assess long-term drug stability, and analyze bio-macromolecule aggregation to ensure product efficacy and support robust development of suspensions, injectables, vaccines and drug delivery systems.
Paints, Coatings and Inks
Measure the stability of coatings and inks, and evaluate the dispersion of pigments and dyes for uniform product quality across water-based and solvent-based formulations.
What is Dispersion Stability? How do We Measure It?
Have you ever noticed sediment forming in your dairy beverages and wondered why? Or are you a formulation scientist struggling with achieving long-term product stability and optimal shelf life?
Discover dispersion stability in this educational video
In this video, Dr. Bettersize takes you on a fascinating journey into the world of dispersions, revealing the crucial role of stability analysis from formulation R&D to product QC in cosmetics, food & beverage, and more. Learn why using a dedicated stability analyzer with advanced SMLS technology is indispensable for ongoing dispersion analysis, ensuring optimal formulations and product satisfaction, and how quantitative stability indicators help teams move beyond subjective visual checks.
Static Multiple Light Scattering (SMLS)
Static Multiple Light Scattering (SMLS) is an optical method to characterize sample in terms of stability. The measurement can be carried out without changing the sample’s initial state. In the BeScan Lab+, an 850 nm near-infrared LED and synchronized transmission and backscattering detectors monitor optical signal changes along the sample height over time. Two detectors are available:
- For concentrated or opaque samples, a backward detector is utilized to detect backscattered signals.
- For diluted or transparent samples, the transmitted signals can be detected by the forward detector. Therefore, transmitted signals are used for stability analysis.
Dispersion stability and Sedimentation analysis
By measuring the scattered light intensity in transmission and backscattering, it is possible to analyze highly concentrated systems. This allows the identification of various phenomena such as sedimentation, creaming, framing, flocculation, coalescence, aggregation or phase separation. For this purpose, the sample is analyzed several times over the entire height in order to detect changes in transmission/backscattering as a function of height and time. With a resolution of 20 µm, destabilization processes can be detected much faster than with the naked eye. In addition, analyses at up to 80 °C or down to 10 °C below ambient with the optional cooling module can accelerate destabilization effects and measurements can be carried out as a function of a temperature ramp.
