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INFINITY Digital Microscopy Cameras used in Thermal Microscopy for Material Characterization

Traditional methods in material science include the use of melting points in identifying various metal alloys. One very early example is the cupulation of gold, a test based on the melting temperature of pure gold when compared to gold alloys. Today a number of advanced thermal techniques have evolved and are widely used in industries as diverse as composites, pharmaceuticals and foods - one such technique being thermal microscopy.

Thermal microscopy has benefited enormously from the recent advances in digital imaging and PC technology.  In order to harness these advancements, METTLER TOLEDO leveraged the INFINITY family of products. When selecting a digital camera, METTLER TOLEDO had to meet the following strict list of requirements:

• Seamless camera integration: METTLER TOLEDO required a digital camera that could quickly and easily integrate with Studio Capture – a specialized software package. Lumenera’s robust camera drivers and experienced technical support led to a successful and timely integration.
• Real-Time Image Preview: Another major advantage of thermal microscopy is the ability to identify changes in real-time as a sample is heated or cooled. INFINITY cameras provide the ability to record changes for both hot and cold images and video files for further analysis and interpretation. This methodology has been heavily incorporated into the pharmaceutical sciences where different structures of the same chemical substance, so called polymorphs, must be identified. Patent data often relies on the detection and identification of the different physical characteristics these polymorphs exhibit.
• Variable Resolution Capability: METTLER TOLEDO found the INFINITY1-1 camera ideal for image capture and analytical measurements, given that the camera’s variable resolution capability can be set appropriately for video files, (e.g. 800x600 pixels) and also capture megapixel resolution still images (up to 1280x1024 pixels for the INFINITY1-1, higher for other camera models).
• Ability to Record Light Intensity Changes: The latest advances in thermal microscopy include analysis of the change in the light intensity that occurs as a sample melts or undergoes other phase transitions. This allows the complete measurement to be displayed in a graphical format. The determination of changes in light intensity is also the basis of the new Sample Controlled Hot Stage Microscopy technique, in which the heating or cooling rate is automatically adjusted during the measurement.

In selecting the INFINITY1-1 microscopy digital camera for its thermal imaging, METTLER TOLEDO was able to satisfy all of its demanding requirements for material characterization. Additionally, INFINITY cameras are also a great complement to other products in METTLER TOLEDO’s portfolio of thermal instruments, including the Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA).

Thank you to METTLER TOLEDO for submitting this case study. If you are interested in submitting your own story, please contact marketing@lumenera.com 

Sample images:

Quench Cooled Sulfapyridine

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