Enhancing Thermal Conductivity Testing with TOPS instrument

Client: Leading Manufacturer of Advanced Foam – Material Research & Development Department
Industry: Foam and Advanced Materials

The client is a global leader in developing innovative foam materials. Their Research & Development (R&D) team is constantly exploring ways to improve material performance, requiring rapid iteration and testing to maintain a competitive edge. One of the critical factors in their development process is testing the thermal conductivity of new formulations.

Previously, the company relied on “guarded hotplate” technology to measure thermal conductivity. However, this method posed several challenges:

• Large Sample Requirements: Each test required a sizable sample (12″ x 12″ x 12″), increasing material costs.
• Time-Consuming Process: The preparation of samples was labor-intensive, and each test took a minimum of two hours.
• Slow Iteration Cycles: Due to the extended testing time, the team could only analyze a limited number of samples per week, slowing down innovation.

To address these inefficiencies, the R&D team tested the TOPS Instrument, an advanced thermal analysis instrument designed for speed and simplicity. TOPS offered the following advantages:

• Rapid Testing: Each test took only five minutes, allowing for significantly faster data collection.
• Minimal Sample Preparation: Unlike the guarded hotplate, the TOPS system required much smaller sample sizes, reducing material waste.
• Ease of Use: No specialized expertise was needed, making it accessible to multiple team members without extensive training.

The implementation of the TOPS instrument dramatically improved the company’s R&D efficiency:

• Increased Throughput: The team was able to test 5-6 samples per day, which was unconceivable in the past.
• Faster Iterations: Chemists were able to rapidly verify changes in thermal conductivity due to formulation adjustments, accelerating innovation cycles.
• User-Friendly Experience: The system’s ease of use and minimal setup time allowed researchers to focus on analysis rather than extensive preparation.

By integrating the TOPS instrument, the client’s R&D team significantly enhanced their testing capabilities, reducing turnaround time and material waste while increasing overall productivity. The combination of speed, simplicity, and small sample requirements made the TOPS system a valuable asset in their pursuit of innovative, high-performance foam materials.

As summarized by the R&D team: “Speed and sample size are extremely appealing factors, it’s easy to use, and it works!”