GAMPT mbH is contributing its many years of expertise in ultrasonic and mechatronic development to the »UltraSep« research project. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, a new ultrasound-assisted separation tool is being developed that will make the precise analysis of nanoparticles using electron microscopy significantly more efficient.
Nanoparticles determine the properties of numerous products – from electronics and cosmetics to energy technology – and are also subject to increasing regulatory requirements. For a reliable classification as a nano- or non-nanomaterial, a number-based particle size distribution over a wide size range is required. Existing screening methods provide this information only to a limited extent, while electron microscopy is very accurate but has been costly to use until now.
This is where »UltraSep« comes in: The aim of the project is to use ultrasound to separate agglomerates in dry powders and dispersions and distribute the particles in such a way that interference-free two-dimensional particle distributions are created. This makes electron microscopy a much more useful analysis tool – from material development to regulatory compliance.
GAMPT is responsible for developing the ultrasound-based hardware components for the project. These include a specially designed ultrasound generator, suitable actuators, and sample holders that can be integrated directly into existing preparation and analysis workflows. By specifically varying the frequency, intensity, and excitation patterns, it should be possible to effectively separate nanoparticles ranging in size from a few nanometers to tens of micrometers.
At Fraunhofer IMWS, the developed process is validated using scanning electron microscopy. In addition, an AI-supported image evaluation system is being developed that automatically segments and characterizes particles – including particle size, dimensions, and aspect ratio – and outputs the results as a number-based distribution. This creates a continuous workflow from sample preparation to evaluable statistics.
The project aims to develop a marketable prototype that can be used to supplement existing electron microscopes, particularly by powder manufacturers and processors in industries such as pigments, batteries, ceramics, and cosmetics. With the development of ultrasonic-assisted core components, GAMPT is making an important contribution to more efficient, precise, and practical nanoparticle analysis.