CARY 7000 UNIVERSAL MEASUREMENT SPECTROPHOTOMETER (UMS) - ADVANCED OPTICAL TESTING

Our optical laboratory has equipped itself with an important tool: Cary 7000 UMS, a state-of-the-art spectrophotometer that performs extremely precise reflectance and transmittance measurements on solid materials. This instrument makes it possible to analyse the behaviour of light on samples such as glass, thin coatings, optical materials and treated surfaces, covering the entire UV-Vis-NIR range (from ultraviolet to near-infrared).

Unlike conventional spectrophotometers, the Cary 7000 UMS allows multi-angle and automated measurements without moving or reconfiguring the sample. It is a handy tool for assessing the optical performance of materials for sectors such as construction, photovoltaics, the glass industry and the functional coatings industry.

We chose this technology to offer a testing service that combines precision, repeatability and fast throughput, even on samples with complex geometries or advanced optical properties.

To better explain the new equipment, we asked a few questions to the person who uses it to perform the tests in our laboratory, Dr Manuel Montebelli.

• Can you explain in simple terms what kind of analyses are performed with the Cary 7000 UMS and on which materials?

The Cary 7000 UMS is an instrument designed to measure the fraction of light incident on a surface, which is reflected or transmitted by it. The instrument works in the electromagnetic radiation spectrum band between 250 and 2500 nm, thus covering all visible light radiation and part of UV and infrared radiation. This operating range makes it possible to investigate the optical behaviour of surfaces exposed to the sun or most artificial light sources. The range of materials we can test is extensive, from building covers to mirrors to photovoltaic modules.

• What are the main advantages of this instrument over other traditional spectrophotometers?

Most commercially available spectrophotometers have a fixed working geometry. There is no freedom to choose the angle at which to illuminate the sample and the angle at which to position the sensors to detect reflected or transmitted light. In contrast, with the Cary 7000 UMS, we can rotate the test specimen and sensors to our liking, reproducing whatever measurement geometry is required. This is very important, as it allows us to comprehensively characterise the optical behaviour of high-tech materials with special surface treatments, which are widely used in high-tech industries such as aerospace or optoelectronics.

• Do you have an example of a particularly complex or interesting test you performed using this tool?

One of the first tasks I carried out with this instrument was the optical characterisation of a glass on whose surface a metal coating was applied. Coated glass is frequently used in the glazing of buildings or means of transport, as it improves thermal insulation and shading from the sun's rays. At the same time, however, they must not completely block out light to allow adequate natural illumination of rooms. Solar reflectance and transmittance tests are needed to investigate these aspects.

• How important is having such advanced technology in a laboratory like ours, with a view to research and innovation?

In my opinion, having such a precise tool that works flexibly will prove crucial in the years to come, given the growing need for customers to perform increasingly precise and in-depth analyses. With the Cary 7000 UMS, we can expand our testing offering, meeting the needs of companies operating in leading-edge technology sectors, such as nanotechnology, aerospace or renewable energy.
 

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