Spectrolab Systems products

Easy to use, rugged and durable Hydraulic Presses suitable for a wide range of applications. The Atlas® 15T and 25T Manual Hydraulic Presses have been designed to handle a wide variety of pressing applications. They are specifically suited to the preparation of KBr discs using the Specac Evacuable Pellet Die assembly. The Atlas® Presses can also be used with Specac Heated Platens for pplications such as the preparation of thin polymer films.

The standard 0 to 15 ton manual hydraulic press P/N GS15011 can be operated to apply up to a 15 ton maximum load. On the press itself there is a pressure relief valve (located under the load gauge) which can be set to “vent off” any excess pressure in the pumping system such that a maximum load setting can be selected on the press. This maximum load is indicated on the standard 0 to 15 ton load gauge. Hence, if this pressure relief valve is adjusted accordingly, then it is possible to build up a pressure that corresponds to e.g. a maximum of 5 tons load as indicated at the 15 ton load gauge. Any further pulls on the pump handle of the press results in this excess pressure being vented off at the pressure release valve.

Specac manufactures a wide range of high-quality Atlas® FTIR Evacuable Pellet Dies suitable for compacting powdered samples into discs or briquettes. These are particularly well suited for the preparation of solid KBr pellets for FT-IR molecular spectroscopic analysis and XRF pellets for X-Ray Fluorescence atomic spectroscopic analysis (as required by a number of USLP and ASTM methods), but also find use in a broad range of other applications. Atlas Series Evacuable Pellet Dies are typically used in conjunction with the Specac’s Atlas Series of Hydraulic Press Products. These FTIR Evacuable Pellet Dies produce circular pellets in sizes from 5 mm to 40 mm diameter as standard, but other shapes and sizes are available on request.

The Specadie™ accessory allows for the production of a solid KBr pellet for analysis by infrared spectroscopy without the need of a separate press and die. The Specadie™ consists of a die body and two bolts that each have a highly polished pressing face. In operation a ground KBr powder is placed in the die body and compressed between the two bolts that are tightened together. A KBr pellet of 8.5mm diameter is formed. The bolts are then removed and the compressed KBr powder is retained inside the die body. The die body in turn acts as the pellet holder and is placed into a spectrometer via the Specadie™ holder 3” x 2” mount plate P/N GS03560

The Atlas Heated Platens have been designed to provide heatable pressing surfaces compatible with all Specac Hydraulic Presses. The platens are easily installed by replacing the bolster fixing of the press by the top platen and placing the bottom platen over the lower pressing face of the press. The platens have a large surface area, are rugged, durable and have full CE safety approval. They are fitted with a permanent thermocouple which monitors the temperature close to the pressing surface. The press connection ports are water cooled which allows for an efficient heating and cooling cycle. The platens are controlled by a digital automatic temperature controller with a stability of ± 1ºC.

The High Temperature Film-maker Accessory P/N GS15800 has a set of heated platens already incorporated into the film making part of the accessory and so the Atlas Heated Platens P/N GS15515 are not needed for use when P/N GS15800 is installed in a press. (The High Temperature Film- maker Accessory P/N GS15800 will fit into the same presses for use as the combination of P/N’s GS15515 and GS15640.).

The Specamill grinding accessory is designed to mix a solid sample with an excess of KBr powder for the preparation of powder samples prior to compression into KBr pellets for IR study. It can also be used in preparing samples for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The target particle size of the sample is at least 0.025mm (if not smaller) to coincide with the wavelength of light in the classical Mid IR region. Final particle size will depend specifically on the actual sample and the mixture proportions and the amount of time being applied for the grinding process.

Allows storage of hygroscopic infrared materials under controlled conditions. The Specacabinet is a drying cabinet suitable for the storage of hygroscopic materials (such as IR cell windows or reference samples) and any other accessories that require a moisture free storage environment. The Specacabinet is thermostatically controlled over the temperature range from ambient to 80°C. A drying agent is included with a colour indicator allowing for a constant check on the humidity.

The Quest™ ATR Accessory is a performance single reflection ATR accessory from Specac designed for laboratory spectroscopic sample analysis in the mid- and far-infrared. With innovative optical design and durable monolithic diamond ATR crystal option, this sets the benchmark in performance and value for ATR spectroscopy.

This accessory allows for the study of diffusely reflecting solid samples in a controlled atmosphere ranging from ambient temperature to 800°C, and vacuum (10-3 Torr) to 500 psi pressure. The standard chamber window is ZnSe, which gives a good balance between IR transmission and mechanical strength. Other optical transmitting windows are available on request. The body is constructed from 316 stainless steel for ruggedness and chemical resistance. Safety features include a low voltage automatic power supply and an automatic shut-down feature, should the temperature sensor detect an overheating fault. A water cooling jacket keeps the outside of the chamber cool when operating at high temperatures and a safety “burst disk” activates whenever the pressure exceeds the recommended safety limit.