Lab-scale solutions to prepare and characterize solid/liquid formulations (S. Del Buffa)

Regardless of the physical state of the materials (powders, polymer pellets, fluids) and the field of application (pharma, detergency, food, inks and coatings, polymer manufacturing, etc.), laboratory-scale processing systems and analytical instrumentation for the characterization of formulations are key to optimize the properties of final products, control the quality of incoming raw materials and predict the behavior of consumer goods. 

In this contribution, an overview of the most relevant and widely adopted techniques for the lab-scale preparation and characterization of solid and liquid formulations will be given. Some practical examples of real applications will be also discussed, covering the following topics: hot melt extrusion and granulation, size and shape of solids and colloids, batch and flow chemistry, microfluidics, physical stability of dispersions, surface and interfacial tension, thermal analysis and rheology.