S&T

Pharmaceuticals

The hydration state of a substance influences a wide range of physicochemical properties, including physical and chemical stability.

This is particularly critical in the pharmaceutical industry, as certain hydrated substances can convert into an amorphous state upon dehydration.

Such transitions can affect compound solubility, flowability, and dissolution rate.

Since approximately one-third of all pharmaceuticals are capable of forming hydrates, there is a growing demand to fully characterize these hydrates — a goal that can be achieved through DVS technology.

Using the sorption kinetics data provided by DVS, the rate of sorption can also be analyzed. This data enables straightforward calculation of diffusion coefficients for powders and fibers through the integrated analysis software.

This application note investigates the formation of hydrates in pharmaceuticals and examines how moisture sorption kinetics are influenced by elevated temperatures.

Application Note 36: Investigation of Hydrate Formation and Loss Using the DVS. [Request a copy] DVS Technical Note 705: The Effect of Temperature on Moisture Sorption Kinetics in Microcrystalline Cellulose. [Request a copy]

Building Materials

The interaction between water and building materials such as cement, wood, and textiles can limit the service life of structures through moisture-induced damage. Porous building materials like cement exhibit multiple degradation pathways that depend on the moisture content within the material.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can be used to study the hardening process of building materials, the pathways of moisture release from within the material, and the critical relative humidity ranges required for stability.

The moisture uptake and sorption kinetics of wood have been the subject of numerous research papers due to the influence of absorbed moisture on wood degradation and stability.

DVS enables differentiation between various wood samples, and the hysteresis observed in water sorption isotherms provides valuable information about bulk sorption processes. This application note offers an overview of DVS techniques applied to building materials and the insights this technology delivers to the industry.

Application Note 104: Vapour Sorption Properties of Building Materials using Gravimetric Sorption Instrumentation – an Overview. [Request a copy]

Food

The moisture sorption properties of food are essential to understanding its storage stability and shelf life. Certain foods, such as biscuits and crackers, readily absorb moisture and retain significant amounts of water, which can lead to structural collapse.

In hot and humid climates, moisture stability is critical for preventing microbial growth — a key factor in avoiding food spoilage.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can be used to measure moisture uptake in food, monitor structural collapse, investigate product crystallization phenomena, and calculate total moisture sorption capacity.

The application notes below present case studies analyzing the structural stability of typical foods — including coffee and powdered milk — under varying relative humidity conditions.

Application Note 11: Moisture Stability of Powdered Milk Formulations. [Request a copy] Application Note 08: Moisture Sorption of Coffee Granules Studied using the DVS-μScope. [Request a copy]

Personal Care Products

The moisture sorption properties of materials in the personal care industry are analyzed in a variety of ways.

Moisture uptake is often used to assess the degree of hair damage, as structural changes in hair fibers manifest as differences in overall moisture regulation characteristics.

Using Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS), the extent to which the properties of damaged hair have been restored can be measured by comparing damaged hair with samples treated using various products. In the case of bathroom tissues, moisture sorption properties are directly tied to product functionality, and DVS can be used to evaluate the performance of various composite materials.

DVS Application Note 55: Measurement of Moisture Uptake Capacity in Human Hair Using Dynamic Vapour Sorption Technique.

[Request a copy] iGC-SEA & DVS Application Note 228: Water Sorption and Surface Properties of Bathroom Tissues. [Request a copy]

Microelectronics

Packaging for microelectronic devices must be highly resistant to moisture ingress in order to prevent "popcorning" — a phenomenon that can occur during production. Popcorning takes place when moisture rapidly vaporizes upon exposure to temperatures above 220 °C, causing deformation within microelectronic structures.

This phenomenon can occur even at moisture contents below 0.1%. As electronic devices become increasingly smaller and more powerful, frequent testing of packaging materials is essential.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can simulate real-world microelectronic packaging environments by performing moisture sorption measurements at elevated temperatures, helping researchers understand the popcorning phenomenon and prevent device failure.

DVS Application Note 31: Measurement of Moisture Ingress in Microelectronics Device Packaging. [Request a copy]

Pharmaceuticals

The hydration state of a substance influences a wide range of physicochemical properties, including physical and chemical stability. This is particularly critical in the pharmaceutical industry, as certain hydrated substances can convert into an amorphous state upon dehydration.

Such transitions can affect compound solubility, flowability, and dissolution rate. Since approximately one-third of all pharmaceuticals are capable of forming hydrates, there is a growing demand to fully characterize these hydrates — a goal that can be achieved through DVS technology.

Using the sorption kinetics data provided by DVS, the rate of sorption can also be analyzed. This data enables straightforward calculation of diffusion coefficients for powders and fibers through the integrated analysis software. This application note investigates the formation of hydrates in pharmaceuticals and examines how moisture sorption kinetics are influenced by elevated temperatures.

Application Note 36: Investigation of Hydrate Formation and Loss Using the DVS. [Request a copy] DVS Technical Note 705: The Effect of Temperature on Moisture Sorption Kinetics in Microcrystalline Cellulose. [Request a copy]

Building Materials

The interaction between water and building materials such as cement, wood, and textiles can limit the service life of structures through moisture-induced damage. Porous building materials like cement exhibit multiple degradation pathways that depend on the moisture content within the material.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can be used to study the hardening process of building materials, the pathways of moisture release from within the material, and the critical relative humidity ranges required for stability.

The moisture uptake and sorption kinetics of wood have been the subject of numerous research papers due to the influence of absorbed moisture on wood degradation and stability. DVS enables differentiation between various wood samples, and the hysteresis observed in water sorption isotherms provides valuable information about bulk sorption processes. This application note offers an overview of DVS techniques applied to building materials and the insights this technology delivers to the industry.

Application Note 104: Vapour Sorption Properties of Building Materials using Gravimetric Sorption Instrumentation – an Overview. [Request a copy]

Food

The moisture sorption properties of food are essential to understanding its storage stability and shelf life. Certain foods, such as biscuits and crackers, readily absorb moisture and retain significant amounts of water, which can lead to structural collapse. In hot and humid climates, moisture stability is critical for preventing microbial growth — a key factor in avoiding food spoilage.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can be used to measure moisture uptake in food, monitor structural collapse, investigate product crystallization phenomena, and calculate total moisture sorption capacity. The application notes below present case studies analyzing the structural stability of typical foods — including coffee and powdered milk — under varying relative humidity conditions.

Application Note 11: Moisture Stability of Powdered Milk Formulations. [Request a copy] Application Note 08: Moisture Sorption of Coffee Granules Studied using the DVS-μScope. [Request a copy]

Personal Care Products

The moisture sorption properties of materials in the personal care industry are analyzed in a variety of ways. Moisture uptake is often used to assess the degree of hair damage, as structural changes in hair fibers manifest as differences in overall moisture regulation characteristics.

Using Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS), the extent to which the properties of damaged hair have been restored can be measured by comparing damaged hair with samples treated using various products. In the case of bathroom tissues, moisture sorption properties are directly tied to product functionality, and DVS can be used to evaluate the performance of various composite materials.

DVS Application Note 55: Measurement of Moisture Uptake Capacity in Human Hair Using Dynamic Vapour Sorption Technique. [Request a copy] iGC-SEA & DVS Application Note 228: Water Sorption and Surface Properties of Bathroom Tissues. [Request a copy]

Microelectronics

Packaging for microelectronic devices must be highly resistant to moisture ingress in order to prevent "popcorning" — a phenomenon that can occur during production. Popcorning takes place when moisture rapidly vaporizes upon exposure to temperatures above 220 °C, causing deformation within microelectronic structures. This phenomenon can occur even at moisture contents below 0.1%. As electronic devices become increasingly smaller and more powerful, frequent testing of packaging materials is essential.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) can simulate real-world microelectronic packaging environments by performing moisture sorption measurements at elevated temperatures, helping researchers understand the popcorning phenomenon and prevent device failure.

DVS Application Note 31: Measurement of Moisture Ingress in Microelectronics Device Packaging. [Request a copy]