Discovery HR 20

Sensitivity

Measure the lowest stresses and smallest sample volumes with revolutionary torque sensitivity

Unrivaled low torque sensitivity empowers you to measure lower viscosities and weaker intermolecular structures while using lower sample volumes.

All Discovery Hybrid Rheometers feature TA’s patented Magnetic Thrust Bearing which reduces basic system friction by 70% compared to traditional designs. By eliminating the contributions of high pressure, turbulent air flow from the measurement system, lower torques can be measured reliably and accurately.

The unparalleled sensitivity of the magnetic thrust bearing is coupled with the NEW improved Advanced Drag Cup Motor. Enhanced torque precision increases the accuracy of every measurement, especially at low torques

Dynamic Measurements

Report G’ and G” with confidence

The storage and loss modulus, G’ and G”, are two of the most insightful measurements provided by any rheometer.

The Discovery Hybrid Rheometer’s exclusive Optical Encoder Dual Reader improves phase angle precision by 70% compared to conventional single- reader designs. This leads directly to a more accurate measurement of G’, G”, and tan δ. This advantage becomes most evident under challenging experimental conditions such as low stresses, small strains, or difficult samples that exhibit only trace amounts of damping or elasticity. The Optical Encoder Dual Reader also provides a 5× improvement in displacement resolution, permitting more accurate measurements at lower strains.

The Advanced Drag Cup Motor is optimized for accuracy in dynamic measurements. The low-mass and -radius design reduces system inertia by up to 80% compared to DC motors, minimizing corrections to oscillation data, especially at higher measurement frequencies. The result is a wider range of accurate measurement frequencies, material types, and experimental designs.

Strain and Stress Control

The measurement you want: Advanced Strain and Stress Control

The Discovery Hybrid Rheometer performs the experiment you want, whether stress-controlled, strain-controlled, or both. State-of-the-art high-speed electronics and the responsive Advanced Drag Cup Motor provide the fastest transient responses and accurate control in any type of deformation. Direct Strain oscillation provides real-time strain control at every point of the oscillatory measurement.

Responsive strain control ensures rapid data collection so you can characterize materials that are undergoing thermal, chemical, or structural transitions. Highly accurate deformation control (stress or strain) also ensures the highest data quality, particularly when evaluating materials that show a non-linear response at very large amplitudes.

Reliability

The Discovery Hybrid Rheometers are designed with sensitivity to measure the softest materials, and are constructed to be rugged enough to handle the stiffest materials and toughest users.

A rigid cast aluminum frame and rugged linear ball slide provide more than 60% greater axial and torsional stiffness than other designs and permit gap position resolution of 0.02 µm.

Two high-stiffness radial bearings stabilize the system from side loads exerted by samples or operators while the Optical Encoder Dual Reader further cancels displacement measurement drift associated with testing very stiff samples over long times.

The Advanced Drag Cup Motor provides stable control and measurement even when operating under extreme conditions. Active and passive thermal systems manage heat and account for system temperature, guaranteeing measurement accuracy under all test conditions.

These innovations provide the most accurate and sensitive measurement, under even the most extreme experimental conditions.

Advanced Technology

True Position Sensor

The DHR includes the patented True Position Sensor (TPS) for true gap accuracy. The TPS is a high-resolution linear position sensor that measures and compensates for the effects of thermal expansion in real time. Unlike competitive devices, the TPS eliminates errors associated with thermal expansion without the need for special high inertia iron core geometries and environmental systems.

The TPS works with all Smart Swap™ geometries and Smart Swap™ environmental systems.
(US Pat #10,161,843)

Normal Force Rebalance Transducer (FRT)
The Force Rebalance Transducer is the premier technology for normal force measurements. This active, non-compliant device accurately measures normal and axial forces without deflection. Competitive capacitive or strain gauge sensors rely on physical movement of the device to sense a force, resulting in measurement error. The FRT provides the most accurate normal force measurement by driving the linear motor to maintain zero deflection at all times and conditions. The FRT also works in conjunction with the magnetic thrust bearing to enable axial DMA capability.

Sample Handling

The NEW Discovery Hybrid Rheometer is your invisible partner in the lab, reducing the time from question to insight.

Load samples with confidence and ease

The Discovery Hybrid Rheometer is designed by rheometer users to make sample loading faster, easier, and improve measurement precision for every operator.

Expedite routine interactions with a gap positioning system that is 3× faster than other rheometers while maintaining a 0.02 µm gap resolution. A convenient tactile keypad places the most common actions where you need them most, including thoughtful features like automated trim gap, measurement position, and bearing lock.

Even more power is offered by the brand new One-Touch-Away™ app-style touchscreen that greatly enhances usability by placing key instrument features at your fingertips.

Every user will appreciate the brand new integrated 360° sample stage lighting that enhances visibility in any lab environment. The result is easier, more repeatable sample loading and trimming, leading to improved data accuracy and precision.

One-Touch-Away™

Revolutionary rheometer performance at your fingertips
The new Discovery Hybrid Rheometer boasts a brand-new One-Touch-Away™ app-style touchscreen that greatly enhances usability by placing key instrument features at your fingertips.

• Ergonomic design for easy viewing and operation
• Packed with functionality to simplify operation and enhance user experience

The app-style touch screen includes:

• Start/stop experiments
• Set temperature
• Set gap
• Controlled rotation for sample loading
• Procedure and sample details
• Real-time signals
• Test and instrument status at a glance
• User prompts

The app-style touchscreen, powerful new TRIOS software, and quick robust calibration routines work seamlessly to dramatically improve laboratory workflows and productivity.

Polymer Guided Methods

Guided Methods for Solid Polymer Torsional Analysis and Polymer Melts provide an easy-to-use interface for new users to obtain desired results with minimal training.

• Improves productivity by significantly reducing training time for new users
• Easy-to-follow interactive and visual guidelines for experimental setup and method development
• Preconfigured experiment templates that can be customized to meet your specific testing needs
• Improved intra-lab and inter-lab precision of critical analytical measurements
• Automate post-test analysis and reporting of product relevant KPIs such as T_g, modulus, crossover frequency (w_c) and modulus (G_c).
• Click on the software section or go to Guided Methods for more details

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Backed by over four decades of TA Instruments’ expertise in rotational rheology and linear DMA measurements, the Discovery Hybrid Rheometer’s DMA Mode adds a new dimension for testing solid and soft-solid materials. Now, in addition to the most sensitive and accurate rotational shear measurements, the DHR can deliver accurate linear Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) data. Controlled axial oscillations permit the direct measurement of E’, E”, and tan 𝛿 in tension, bending and compression, a perfect addition to shear measurements, including solids in torsion. The new DMA mode is ideal for identifying a material’s transition temperatures and provides reliable measurements over the instrument’s full range of temperatures.

The axial DMA capability is enabled by the DHR’s active Force Rebalance Transducer (FRT) and patented magnetic bearing technologies that permit amplitude- controlled oscillatory deformation in the axial direction. Installation of external components is never required, so it is always quick and easy to get great data! Competitive instruments that employ air bearings and passive normal force measurements are inherently incapable of such measurements without costly modifications.

DMA Mode

Smart Swap™ Geometries

The NEW Smart Swap™ 2 geometry system features an all new system for optical information storage and transfer.This system provides greater storage and durability than chip-based systems. When attached, the complete geometry information, including unique dimensions is automatically detected and the software is appropriately configured.

Smart Swap™ Temperature Systems and Accessories

Only TA Instruments offers the convenience and versatility of Smart Swap™ temperature control options and accessories. Smart Swap™ options are attached to the instrument on its unique magnetic base, providing faster, easier installation than mechanical systems. Once attached, the instrument automatically detects and configures the system for operation.

JSON Export: The Future of Data Management

• Seamless Integration: Convert your TRIOS data into the open standard JSON format, making it easy to integrate with programming tools, data science workflows, and lab systems (e.g. LIMS). JSON is available:
  • Automatically on every save (enabled in options)
  • Through manual export dialogs
  • As part of the “Send to LIMS” functionality
  • Via the “Batch” processing dialog or from the command line
  • In TRIOS AutoPilot
• Data Consistency: Our publicly available JSON schema ensures a consistent data structure, allowing you to write code once and apply it universally across all your data files.
• Python Library: Use our open-sourced python library, TA Data Kit, to simplify your data ingestion or learn how to take advantage of the power of our data with our code examples.

For more information, click here

User Experience

TRIOS Software provides the right experience for every user

TRIOS for the Discovery Hybrid Rheometer features two powerful user interfaces that present users with what they need to collect the data they want.

TRIOS Express helps users to design the most common measurements quickly and easily. Simple forms and sensible defaults streamline the process of experiment design and execution.

TRIOS Unlimited gives you complete control. A robust set of detailed experimental controls and data collection options ensures that you will be able to design the experiment you envision and collect the data you need.

Complete Data Record

The advanced data collection system automatically saves all relevant signals, active calibrations, and system settings. Waveforms for each data point may be displayed as Lissajous plots and provide a visual representation of the stress-strain relationship. This comprehensive set of information is invaluable for method development, procedure deployment and data validation.

Data Analysis

Complete Data Analysis Capabilities

A comprehensive set of relevant tools are available for real-time data analysis, even during experiments. Gain actionable insights into your material behavior through a powerful and versatile set of features seamlessly integrated into TRIOS.

All Standard Analyses

• Onset and endset analysis
• Signal maximum and minimum
• Signal change
• Modulus crossover
• Curve values at specific X or Y points
• 1st and 2nd derivatives
• Area under the curve
• Peak height
• Peak integration and running integral
• Mathematical fitting: straight line, polynomial, or exponential
• Statistical functions

Advanced Analysis Capabilities

• More than 10 flow models including automatic model selection based on best fit to experimental data
• Time-Temperature Superposition (TTS) analysis with automatic curve shifting and Mastercurve generation
• Activation Energy calculation
• WLF coefficient calculation
• Convert between temperature ramps and frequency sweeps
• Cole-Cole, Van Gurp-Palmen, and Lissajous plots
• Built-in models for: discrete and continuous relaxation or retardation spectra, Oldroyd and Spriggs models
• Creep ringing analysis by Kelvin, Maxwell, or Jeffreys models
• Viscoelastic transformations to interconvert between oscillation, stress relaxation, stress growth, creep, relaxation spectra, retardation spectra, and memory functions.
• Advanced custom analysis with user-defined variables and models
• Cox-Merz: η*(ω)→η()
• Fluid Inertia Correction
• Rabinowicz Correction
• Direct Creep – Oscillation conversion
• Discrete Fourier Transformation (DFT)
• Window Correlation

AutoPilot

Experience a new paradigm in software functionality and unleash the full potential of your Discovery Hybrid Rheometer with AutoPilot, a premium feature that enables complete automation of powerful TRIOS software.

AutoPilot allows users to quickly and easily create automated routines: from test methods to data analysis and report generation. These routines empower laboratories to streamline and standardize operations and decision-making across local or global laboratory enterprises. From quality control to research and development, laboratory environments of all types will benefit from increased productivity, improved data precision, and reduced training time.

See AutoPilot for Discovery HR

Polymer Guided Methods

Guided Methods for Solid Polymer Torsional Analysis and Polymer Melts provide an easy-to-use interface for new users to obtain desired results with minimal training.

Torsion analyses of solids

• • Step-by-step instructions for sample loading
  • Pre-configured experiment templates with customizable parameters
  • Automated post-test analyses to report the product relevant KPIs such as T_g and modulus.

Polymer melts

• • Step-by-step instructions for sample loading and trimming
  • Pre-configured experiment templates with customizable parameters
  • Automated post-test analyses to report the product relevant KPIs such as crossover frequency (w_c) and modulus (G_c) which can be correlated with MW and MWD