3Flex Surface Characterization Analyzer
Micromeritics 3Flex Surface Characterization Analyzer is a fully automated, three-station instrument capable of high-performance physisorption, mesopore, micropore, and chemisorption analyses with superior accuracy, resolution, and data reduction. Each analysis station is upgradeable from mesopore to micropore with the option of designating one station for chemisorption analyses. All analysis stations can be configured for krypton analysis of low surface area materials. Vapor sorption capability is standard. A single 3Flex with its minimal footprint and three configurable analysis stations eliminates costly investment in multiple instruments and additional bench space. The 3Flex is ideally suited for the characterization of MOFs, zeolites, activated carbons, adsorbents, and a wide variety of porous and non-porous materials.
The 3Flex contains many design features that ensure superior performance and mark a major advancement in surface characterization instrumentation. Each of the analysis stations is capable of achieving very low absolute pressures as a result of the design and construction of the manifold and its connection to a high-vacuum system. The advanced manifold design and embedded control provide an ultra-stable environment for pressure and temperature measurements, extending the limits of resolution. Pneumatically actuated, hard seal valves and metal seals provide ultra-clean operation. These chemically resistive surfaces also allow the use of a greater selection of adsorptives. A saturation pressure station with a dedicated pressure transducer allows continuous monitoring of saturation pressure.
With the chemisorption option, the 3Flex can be configured to perform chemical adsorption analyses that enable the researcher to obtain valuable information about the active properties of catalysts, catalyst support, and a variety of other materials.
A flow-through sample cell and ultra-clean valves provide in situ activation while maintaining high-quality vacuum levels. In situ preparation and activation deliver a fully automated method that does not require user intervention and fully integrates activation and analysis into one simple-to-use application. A high-precision mass flow controller, high-temperature furnace, quartz cell, heated exhaust port, and twelve gas inlets are all standard with this option. The design permits transition from a chemisorption arrangement to a micropore configuration within seconds.
The 3Flex also includes enhanced software capabilities, data reduction features, and instrument monitoring. A new advanced dosing method allows the user to mix both pressure and volume increments. An innovative dashboard monitors and provides convenient access to real-time instrument performance indicators and maintenance scheduling information. Utilizing interactive click-and-drag calculation bars, innovative MicroActive for 3Flex software gives the user the ability to quickly fit a model to isotherm data, reducing the time required to obtain surface area, porosity, and chemisorption results. It is not necessary to generate reports to view results – see it graphically and interactively on the screen. User selectable data ranges through the graphic interface allow direct modeling for BET surface area, BJH pore volume, t-plot, Langmuir, DFT interpretation, and much more. The isotherm analysis suite provides an extensive selection of NLDFT models for calculating pore size distributions. Chemisorption calculations include dispersion, metal surface area, and crystallite size. Unified Analysis Conditions for physical and chemical analyses allow users to rapidly develop new methods with a common interface.