FD-LTMS是一種模塊化設計的光譜透射測量系統，旨在快速、高效、高精度的分析或監測食品飲料、酒類、染料等需要對組分嚴格控制的溶液的不同組分的濃度。LTMS模塊化液體透射測量系統目前已被驗證并用于鋁陽極氧化染料槽濃度的監測，該系統也可用于實驗室溶液濃度的快速分析，還可以配合自動流體控制裝置實現溶液濃度的實時在線分析/監測，為制程中產品良率改善提供可視化實時建議。

測量參數：

不同組分濃度

可見光波長的透射曲線

可見光波長透射率

可計算色坐標

可計算實際濃度與理論濃度偏差

應用領域：

陽極氧化溶液實驗室/在線監測

食品飲料/酒類成分分析

玻璃或其他透明材料透射率測量

LTMS模塊化液體透射測量系統產品優勢：

體積小巧：模塊化設計，易于集成

光源壽命：脈沖LED，＞250m測量次數

加固結構：IP67防水外殼，使用復雜環境

Note: The author of this application note featuring the LTMS is Amy J. Ray Bauer, Ph.D., Principal Applications Scientist.

Anodization is an industrial passivation process that augments aluminum’s natural tendency to form an oxide layer on a bare surface, an effect known as “self-passivation." In all types of anodization, the piece to be treated acts as the anode electrode of an electrolytic system. Generally, this process is employed to render the surface more resistant to wear and corrosion, but the increased porosity of the surface after anodization can be used to introduce artful cosmetic effects.

Anodizing creates a layer of oxide on the surface of bare metal, and in doing so changes the properties of the surface. The oxide layer includes microscopic porosity, a decrease in surface conductivity, and an increase in superficial hardness. The oxide layer has a much higher melting point than the base aluminum, making it subject to thermal cracking but not peeling, when the piece is heated past about 80 °C, because of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the bare metal and the oxide.

The process of anodization begins with a thorough cleaning of the surface, and then one of three chief processes are applied. Each differs in terms of the resultant coating.

Type 1: Chromic Acid Anodization
Using chromic acid as the electrolyte, this type of anodization typically produces films of oxide that are between 0.5-18 um. These films are softer, more ductile and generally, more opaque than other processes. Because of their softness, they are self-healing to some degree. This type of film is not generally amenable to dyeing, but the process is a good pre-treatment for painting.

Types 2 and 3: Sulfuric Acid Anodization
This type is segregated into coatings of moderate thickness (Type 2) and those thicker than 25 um (Type 3).  Thicker coatings require more extensive and complex process control, involving temperature control and higher voltages than thinner films. Thicker films are more useful with respect to wear and corrosion resistance, and thermal and electrical insulation. Sealing on the thick films tends to reduce these properties.

Organic acids, phosphoric acid and borate/tartrate baths also are used to produce oxide films on aluminum parts.

Anodization and Dyeing Processes
The porosity of the oxide layer formed in anodization processes permits the surfaces to readily accept dyes. Because these dyes are basically an optical filter on the surface of the aluminum part, the colors vary to some degree on the base alloy. The dyes can be either organic or metallic, the latter used more extensively in applications requiring relative stability to sunlight. The dyeing process is typically done in a bath following the anodization process but is sometimes incorporated during the electrolytic process using organic acids mixed with the sulfuric acid. Following dyeing procedures, the surface is normally sealed to aid corrosion resistance and dye preservation.

In both dyeing approaches, the bath conditions must be monitored and controlled. Temperature, pH, and bath dye concentration are all important variables that need to be closely regulated. In general, dye concentrations are specified by the vendor at some small number of grams/liter. In forums and other venues, anodization professionals have expressed the need for precise measurements, and in general, when precision is called for, invoke the use of a spectrophotometer. The benefits to using wavelength dispersed absorption/transmission spectroscopy instruments are numerous:

• They permit precise concentration measurements and dye concentrations, which in multi-component systems are complicated.

• They allow relatively unskilled people to make the measurement and estimate strike times.

• They allow the anodization shop to control measurements and make it unnecessary to reach out to the dye manufacturers for routine testing.

Automated spectrometry adds another layer of ease to this approach, by making periodic and unattended measurements. In such as system, the whole of the concentration analysis is automated.

About the Ocean Insight LTMS
The Ocean Insight LTMS performs real-time, in-line spectroscopic monitoring of the concentration of a wide variety of liquids, including dyes, plating baths, ingredients in foods and beverages, and other industrial applications. The instrument is based on the marriage of Ocean Insight spectrometers and an automated fluid handling system. Fluid is pumped from the point of analysis into a flow-through optical cell, compatible with a wide variety of potential solvents and analytes. The time per measurement is contingent on sample absorbance, pathlength and signal-to-noise requirements, typically ranging from 40 ms to 5 minutes.

The output from the device can be used to establish absorbance/transmission values, or the output can be passed through machine learning models to report concentrations, provide a process pass/fail, or to perform other controls to an online process.

The LTMS is a compact, ruggedized device suitable for harsh environments and is typically customized to each customer’s requirements. It has been extensively applied to various aqueous dye solutions, including those with multiple components. The information produced by the LTMS can be very beneficial in the challenging task of  performing controlled color-matching in industrial processes.