Thermo Introduces New Diffuse Reflectance Accessory for Analysis of Difficult Solid Samples

Thermo Electron Corporation announces the launch of its unique, flexible and easy to use, Diffuse Reflectance Accessory (DRA) for use with its Evolution 600 UV-Vis spectrophotometer.

The new DRA offers excellent performance and flexibility in the material sciences and general research laboratories. Due to the horizontal mounting configuration, samples of almost any size and extremely delicate samples can easily be measured. It is of interest to photonics and microelectronics industries, university research departments and national research institutes.

Thermo’s new and easy-to-use DRA features the only upward viewing, horizontally mounted reflectance port in the industry. In this configuration, the sample is held in place by gravity. All other diffuse reflective accessories require force to physically push the sample against the mounting port of the integrating sphere. This mounting configuration potentially causes damage to more delicate samples. In contrast, Thermo’s innovative horizontal mounting port enables the measurement of the most fragile samples, such as reflectance and color measurements of a butterfly wing, without damaging the insubstantial surface.

Furthermore, the DRA’s unique horizontally mounted reflectance port is located outside the sample compartment, meaning that customers are able to measure large samples. This is of tremendous benefit, as with other DRAs the sample must be cut or dissected into smaller samples that would fit into the sample compartment. In addition, the accessory’s double beam Spectralon® integrating sphere ensures the highest possible energy throughput and accuracy while also being fully CIE compliant for performing color measurements. A transmittance port is also included for diffuse transmittance measurements of solid or turbid liquid samples.