Liquids analyzer TFA-2

laboratoryfor the food industryfor cosmetic products

Overview
The TFA-2 Thin Film Analyzer (SINTERFACE) is a development-stage platform for quantitative characterisation of microscopic foam and emulsion films. It combines interferometric thickness measurements with direct optical observation and a pressure-controlled measurement cell to study film formation, thinning, rupture, black film formation and disjoining pressure in a single experimental platform. The system is designed for high-precision thin liquid film research and configurable measurement workflows.

Core capabilities

• Interferometric thickness measurement for high-precision film thickness evaluation
• Thin Liquid Film Pressure Balance technique for controlled stability studies
• Film stability analysis: drainage, thinning behaviour and rupture observation
• Integrated inverse microscope with digital imaging for continuous visualisation
• Black film and black spot observation (bilayer structures)
• Temperature-controlled experiments using a temperature-controlled measurement cell

Performance highlights

• Thickness resolution: ±0.2 nm
• Film thickness range: 30–100 nm (characterisation of stable, thinning and equilibrium films)
• Disjoining pressure measurement range: 10–10000 Pa
• Temperature control range: 10–80 °C

Measurement principle
The instrument forms a microscopic liquid film inside a pressure-controlled measurement cell and observes it through an inverse microscope. Monochromatic light reflected at the film interfaces produces interference signals from which film thickness is calculated. By simultaneously controlling capillary pressure, the system links film thickness, drainage and stability to the disjoining pressure within the film.

Optics & hardware

• Inverse microscope (integrated)
• Digital CCD camera for live microscopic image acquisition
• Monochromatic light source for interferometric analysis
• Photo sensor module / optical detection
• Pressure-controlled measurement cell
• Temperature-controlled measurement cell for reproducible thermal conditions
• Integrated pressure control unit
• Quartz optical window

Software & analysis

• Real-time film thickness evaluation
• Interferometric analysis and optical contour analysis
• Pressure sequence control and disjoining pressure analysis
• Film drainage evaluation and graphical visualisation of experiments
• Data export for scientific evaluation (Windows compatible)

Optional modules & accessories

• Dedicated measurement cells (different types)
• Pressure control accessories and pressure-control components
• Optical accessories and filters (e.g. precision filters)
• Porous plate sets
• Photo sensor modules and temperature control accessories

Applications

• Foam stability and foam films
• Emulsion stability and microscopic emulsion films
• Surfactant research and adsorption effects on film stability
• Food and beverage formulation research (foams/emulsions)
• Cosmetic emulsion and formulation stability
• Fundamental interface science: disjoining pressure, black film formation, intermolecular interactions

Notes
The TFA-2 is currently in development and not regularly available. Values and capabilities may depend on configuration, measurement mode and optional modules.