Product Introduction
The TX500C PLUS Spinning Drop Interfacial Tensiometer is a product developed and manufactured through a collaboration between our company and a U.S. firm. As an instrument designed for physical property testing in the fields of mechanics and physics, it utilizes a high-speed rotating sample tube to bring the liquid-liquid interface to a stable state, allowing for the measurement of ultra-low interfacial tension via an optical imaging method. Key applications for this instrument include: laboratory research and field monitoring for tertiary oil recovery (chemical flooding); the study of surfactants, detergents, emulsions, and foams; research into fuels, lubricants, paints, inks, and coatings; as well as investigations involving paper products, photosensitive materials, and pesticides.
The TX500C PLUS Spinning Drop Interfacial Tensiometer complies with the following standards
GB/T 22237-2008: Surface active agents – Determination of surface tension
JB/T 9388-2002: Technical specifications for interfacial tensiometers
JB/T 18396-2001: Natural latex – Determination of surface tension by the ring method
SH/T 1156-95: Synthetic latex – Determination of surface tension
GB/T 6541-86: Petroleum products – Determination of interfacial tension of oil against water (ring method)
ISO 1409-1995: Plastics, rubber, polymer dispersions and latices – Determination of surface tension
ISO 6295-1983: Petroleum products – Mineral oils – Determination of interfacial tension of oil against water (ring method)
GB/T 5549 (ISO 304-1985): Determination of surface tension by the pull-film (lamella) method
Other applicable standards include ISO 14090-82, ASTM D1417, EN 14370, ZB 2025-93, GB 2960-82, and GB 6541-86.
Key Features
1. The instrument utilizes a plug-in quartz glass tube sleeve design, which facilitates the easy removal of the sample tube. This design minimizes the risk of the sample tube breaking during testing. Samples are loaded into the tube prior to testing, and the tube can be easily removed for cleaning, ensuring a convenient operational process. The instrument features a stainless-steel inner sleeve and rotor. Because these components share similar thermal expansion coefficients, heat conduction is optimized. Furthermore, the stainless-steel material is corrosion-resistant, rust-proof, and highly durable. Its low deformation coefficient ensures high concentricity, which helps keep the sample tube stable in a horizontal position and minimizes vibration during rotation.
2. It utilizes a high-speed, brushless motor imported from Switzerland, equipped with a comprehensive servo-control system. This motor offers a long service life, high control precision, and excellent compatibility. It supports rotational speeds of up to 12,000 rpm with a precision of ±5 rpm. The motor encoder features 500 control points per revolution, ensuring superior accuracy and ease of operation. The combination of a camera and objective lens provides high measurement precision and multiple magnification levels; this allows for the magnification of oil droplets—even those with ultra-low interfacial tension—thereby significantly enhancing the accuracy of such measurements.
3. The instrument offers a wide measurement range for interfacial tension, spanning nine orders of magnitude—from 10-7mN/m to 100 mN/m—making it a full-range spinning-drop interfacial tensiometer.
4. It employs a digital CCD camera (USB interface) with an imported chip, which outperforms the traditional analog CCDs. This setup eliminates the need for an image acquisition card or a dedicated PCI slot in the computer, allowing the instrument to be used with a broader range of computers, thereby increasing user convenience and flexibility.
5. The control software features a standard Windows-based interface, making it simple to operate. Images are saved in the standard BMP format and can be stored or printed. The software incorporates a proprietary algorithm—developed through extensive research—to calculate interfacial tension. Processes such as setting the image capture rate, saving images, calculating interfacial tension, and displaying results are all automated, effectively eliminating human error. Additionally, the system can record interfacial tension as it changes over time, rotational speed, or temperature. All data are stored in a database and can be exported directly to Excel files; the software also provides real-time graphical displays of measurement data. 6. Precise LED control technology—combining strobe and continuous illumination modes—is integrated with a USB-based digital CCD camera triggered by the rotation speed. This ensures flicker-free imaging across various rotation speeds. The enhanced clarity at interface edges facilitates the analysis of turbid samples, such as those often encountered in oilfield applications. Furthermore, the use of a continuous LED light source helps extend the component's service life.
7. The entire testing process is managed via communication between PC software and an onboard microcontroller. Intelligent, AI-driven image analysis is employed to capture, process, and calculate data from the rotating droplet, ensuring excellent usability and reproducibility. The instrument can be operated either through the PC software interface or directly via the control panel on the unit itself.
8. An integrated, electronically controlled heating system maintains a constant experimental temperature. Utilizing precise PID temperature control, the heating assembly features a corrosion-resistant stainless steel design; its bottom-diffusion configuration ensures rapid thermal conductivity and uniform heating of the sample tube. This built-in module eliminates the need for external temperature control equipment, though the instrument remains compatible with external circulating constant-temperature baths.
9. The system features a low-noise, dual-motor mechanism for locating the droplet, operated via an intuitive touchscreen interface. It supports both PC-connected and standalone (offline) modes for control and configuration. The entire rotating assembly allows for horizontal leveling of the rotation chamber, making it easy to keep the droplet positioned within the viewing window.
Configuration List
1. Main unit (computer not included) – 1 unit
2. Industrial imaging system – 1 set
3. XY-axis motorized image-locating system – 1 set
4. Integrated rotation mechanism – 1 set
5. RS-232 serial cables – 2 set / USB data cable – 1 set
6. Power cord – 1 piece
7. Syringe needles (0.9 mm diameter, 10 cm length) – 5 pieces
8. 100 µL micro-syringes – 2 pieces
9. 5 mL gas-tight syringes – 5 pieces
10. Sample tubes (3 mm inner diameter; high-temperature and high-pressure resistant, self-sealing) – 4 pieces
11. Leveling/calibration tool – 1 set
12. Pressure-tight sealing plugs for sample tubes – 5 sets
13. Retaining caps for the main unit’s rotating shaft – 2 pieces
14. Calibration standard tubes – 2 pieces
15. High-temperature heating system – 1 set
16. Dedicated computer – 1 set
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