Objetivo In the industrial production of modern concentrated surfactants, which despite their high concentration of dry matter (>60%) remain pourable liquids, the precise control of water content is essential. Up till now, this was normally achieved through adjustments in a discontinuous batch process. The introduction of a continuous in-line measurement and control method would strongly increase the production efficiency and reduce waste. The main reason for chosing X-ray small-angle scattering (SAXS) as the measurement principle lies in the fact that this method "sees" only the relevant water content in the liquid crystalline phase and is not perturbed by macroscopic bubbles, which are always present in such products. The objectives are to design, build and test a prototype SAXS camera system which can detect changes in lattice constance of +/- 0.1 Å (0,01 nm) in the range between 25 and 60 Å , and which can operate reliably and automatically in a rough chemical plant environment.The hardware for four detector systems has been procured / developed. Assembly of the one detector has taken place, with others to follow very shortly. All reports up to year four were submitted and accepted by the EEC.Partner 1 (IBR Graz, SME) is project coordinator and provides the physico-chemical know-how concerning the SAXS method towards conceptual and technical design. Partner 1 also performs the system assembly and laboratory testing of the prototype. Partner 2 (HECUS M.Braun-Graz SME) is concerned with the data acquisition and processing components and with the automatic measurement control. Partner 3 (M. Braun Garching, SME) performs the development of the controlled-environment system enclosure, necessary to maintain precision under industrial conditions. Partner 4 (OCSAM Udine, SME) is responsible for the development of optics components and the vacuum case of the SAXS camera. Partner 5 (Albright & Wilson) the industrial partners, provide their know-how concerning the industrial requirements in surfactant production, perform test measurements with conventional laboratory SAXS cameras to establish the optimal measurement strategy for continuous control and are responsible for the industrial performance tests in one of their plants after the prototype has passed the laboratory tests. Ámbito científico engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticssocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economics Programa(s) FP4-SMT - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of standards, measurements and testing, 1994-1998 Tema(s) 0102 - Measurement and testing in the industrial development phase Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador AUSTRIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 17,SCHMIEDLSTRASSE 6 8042 GRAZ Austria Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (4) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Albright and Wilson UK Ltd Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección CA28 9QQ Whitehaven Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos M. Braun Graz Optical Systems GmbH Austria Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 16,Angelo Eustacchio Gasse 8010 Graz Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Officina Costruzione Stampi Attrezzature Modelli Srl Italia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Via della Tomba Antica 1/2 33030 Basaldella di Campoformido Udine Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos U. Braun GmbH - Labortechnische Geräte Alemania Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 3,Gutenbergstrasse 85748 Garching Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos