Written on: July 21, 2021 by SprayTM
Global aerosol dispensing company LINDAL Group has introduced an advanced spray imaging system to help deliver new levels of spray performance insight for customers.
Currently, LINDAL already conducts detailed spray analysis in the form of flow, particle size, spray angle/shape and spray pattern performance on its standard product range, as well as the bespoke solutions it works on with its innovation partners. The new technology not only adds to this, but provides a new avenue for in-depth consumer tests, with additional spray characterisations, including the measurement of shape and velocity also planned for the future utilization of the technology.
The new measurement technology, deployed at LINDAL’s Global Innovation Centre in France, uses optical techniques to capture spray behavior at high speed (around 7,500 images per second). Comprised of front and back radial lighting, camera and suction system hardware, its integrated software produces 30 second videos of spray movement for analysis, equivalent to 0.1 seconds in real time. The process provides detailed information on axial plume spray, including the particle distribution as well as the angle, diameter and length.
Eric Lambine, Central Laboratory Manager at LINDAL’s GIC, said, “The software’s ability to capture the behaviour of the spray and not simply the size of spray particles, is crucial. This information allows us to understand so much more about spray patterns and performance, which creates far greater objectivity to our analyses and discussions. We believe it will significantly benefit our customers that we are working with now and in the future.”
The company believes the spray imaging system will also be effective when testing compressed air dispensing solutions. Spray performance can be affected due to a reduction of pressure over the lifecycle of the can, resulting in a larger droplet sizes and a “wet” final product, not suitable for products such as hairsprays and deodorants.
With the production of more in-depth spray performance data, LINDAL plans to use the technology with compressed air systems to greater understand the performance of the product in association with the valve and actuator combination, over the lifecycle of a can.
“We aim to generate a template incorporating an optimum propellant, valve and actuator combination, as well as deriving further quantitative data, producing new levels of quality in all our dispensing systems,” noted Lambine.
“Our ultimate goal is to give our customers the best opportunity to provide an improved consumer experience.”
