News

Product Photo: STABLO-AP DRY AIR Standing on its Dedicated Stand
Product Photo: STABLO-AP DRY AIR, Built into the AP W-AD Series Analytical Balances
Product Photo: STABLO-AP DRY AIR Held by an Operator

On August 4, Shimadzu Corporation will release the STABLO-AP DRY AIR, a desktop corona discharge ionizer specialized for dry air environments. This is the world’s first ionizer specialized for dry air environments. An ionizer is an instrument that removes static electricity. Static electricity is neutralized by applying positive and negative ions for a few seconds. This helps prevent adhesion and scattering of powder samples, supporting accurate weighing.

In recent years, with progress in carbon neutrality, battery research and manufacturing have become more active. Because moisture in the air adversely affects battery performance and safety, research, development, and manufacturing of lithium batteries and other rechargeable batteries are carried out in dry air environments. However, static electricity tends to occur in such environments, and battery performance evaluation and quality control have been hindered by the adhesion and scattering of powder samples. In dry air environments, the behavior of corona discharges is completely unlike that in standard atmospheric environments. Accordingly, corona discharge ionizers intended for standard atmospheres cannot provide sufficient static elimination. As alternatives, soft X-ray and vacuum UV instruments are available. However, shielding structures and safety measures are required, which increases installation and maintenance costs. This product adopts a proprietary discharge control system that can finely adjust frequency and voltage, achieving a low-cost and highly safe solution for static electricity control even in dry air environments.

To date, in addition to STABLO-AP, which eliminates static electricity in standard atmospheric environments, Shimadzu has released STABLO-AP Ar for argon environments and STABLO-AP N2 for nitrogen environments. The STABLO-AP series has sold more than 15,000 units in total and has been well received.

Shimadzu Corporation has been manufacturing and selling analytical balances since 1918. Through the continued development of high-performance, user-friendly products, Shimadzu will continue to support not only battery research and development, but also improved operational efficiency and quality stabilization at manufacturing sites.

Features

1. World’s First Desktop Corona Discharge Model Achieves Static Elimination in Dry Air Environments

This corona discharge ionizer achieves stable static elimination in dry air environments (dew point temperature of -30 °Cdp or lower). In addition to dry rooms and dry booths used in battery manufacturing processes, it can be used in a variety of environments, including glove boxes filled with dry air and open dry chambers.

2. Can be Used in Three Configurations: Standalone, Balance-Integrated, or Hand-Held, and Also with Micro Compression Testing Machines

This new model supports three configurations: standalone on a dedicated stand, integrated into the Shimadzu AP W-AD or AP series analytical balances, or hand-held by an operator. It can also be used together with the MCT series micro compression testing machines, enabling the evaluation of powders and fine materials.

3. Economical in Terms of Instrument Price and Running Costs

Conventionally used radiation-type ionizers (soft X-ray or vacuum UV) for inert gas environments cost 3 to 4 times as much as the STABLO-AP DRY AIR. Further, expensive consumables such as discharge needles and lamps must be replaced frequently. This model is economical in terms of both instrument price and running costs.

For more details, visit
STABLO-AP DRY AIR