Purdue Prof. Partners with Anton Paar on Particle Flow Research

A researcher at Purdue University and scientific equipment manufacturing firm Anton Paar formed a collaboration to study the particle flow characteristics of fine powders, the West Lafayette, IN institution of higher learning announced Tuesday.

The company donated a powder rheometer to Kingsley Ambrose, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering who is researching various ways particles flow and bind to enable improvements in handling, mixing, and packaging particles in food and feed manufacturing.

Anton Paar will use Ambrose’s research to collect data on the equipment as the professor’s team conducts research to make improvements on the firm’s design and manufacturing process.

“This is a win-win situation for both of us,” said Ambrose in a university press release. “The instrument will allow our students to be trained in a new kind of powder characterization, and Anton Paar will gain useful data and exposure as we publish and present our results.”

Initially intended to measure liquid flow, Anton Paar’s MCR 502 rheometer was modified for fine powders. The equipment, installed at Ambrose’s lab this March, represents the first powder rheometer that the company has donated to an American university.

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“The MCR 502 will allow maximum flexibility to characterize different types of powder and complex fluid materials,” said Abhishek Shetty, lead rheology scientist at Anton Paar, in a statement. “We are excited to work with innovative leaders like Professor Ambrose to push the boundaries when it comes to powder rheological measurements. The goal of our partnership is to not only come up with new measurement techniques, but also drive fundamental understanding of complex powder flow problems.”