Porous Materials, Inc. Unveils New Multipoint Simultaneous Pore Structure Analyzer

Ithaca, NY, December 20, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Porous Materials, Inc. (PMI) is proud to announce the production of the Multipoint Simultaneous Pore Structure Analyzer. This machine is a type of porometer that allows for multiple tests of a sample to be run simultaneously. This is done by running a specified length and width of the sample through two flat parallel plates.

The top plate has straight through cylindrical holes to accommodate inverted cup shaped sample chambers and about two inch diameter samples. The bottom plate also has through holes aligned with the holes in the top plate. There are five chambers over the product width of twenty inches. The chamber has gaskets at its bottom rim to make pressure tight seal with the sheet when the chamber goes down the hole in the top plate to make contact with the sheet. The top of the chamber is connected to the pressure transducer to measure pressure just above the sample. The sample chamber is also connected to a gas line to supply pressurized gas to the chamber. The outlet of a small valve for discharging specified amount of wetting liquid on the sample in the sample chamber is allowed to pass in to the chamber. The valve is computer controlled to discharge the wetting liquid at the desired time.

The instrument can have many test heads along the width of the sheet material so that simultaneous tests can be performed at a number of locations along the width. The same tests across the width can be performed in another location when the sheet moves. There are many ways of advancing the material; the sheet product can be mounted on two rolls and can be made to automatically advance from one location along its length to another. Another option is that samples can be cut from the roll after specified length and tests can be performed on the cut piece over its width. The instrument is fully automated, and operator involvement is minimal.

There are four unique advantages of using this machine:

- Properties are recorded as the sheet is getting rolled. There is a permanent record of pore structure characteristics of the entire roll.
- If properties are not within acceptable limits along the width or the length, the unacceptable portions can be discarded rather than supplied to customers creating customer dissatisfaction and increased cost.
- Major faults detected early lead to modification of production control parameters so that more acceptable products are manufactured.
- Wastage is minimized, cost is reduced, and production is optimized.

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