MQC-R is a highly adjustable benchtop time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) device that may be used in both industry and academia for versatile material analysis.
Its modular architecture offers many possibilities for measuring diffusion and 1D profiles using pulsed field gradient packages and changing sample temperature.
MQC-R is characterized by important physical characteristics (like mobility, microstructure, and mass transport) and composition (like water and fluorine content) of samples from a variety of fields, including food science, chemical research, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, polymers, batteries, and building materials. MQC-R can be adjusted with different probe sizes and nuclei (e.g., 1H, 19F).
5 Reasons why Oxford Instruments MQC-R should be your next TD-NMR research instrument
Video Credit: Oxford Instruments - Magnetic Resonance
Why TD-NMR?
TD-NMR characterizes both clear and opaque samples, is noninvasive and nondestructive, and frequently requires no sample preparation, in contrast to other methods used to get the same sample properties. Another significant benefit is that TD-NMR does not require dangerous chemicals and can be utilized on a lab benchtop, mobile workstation, or near-line in manufacturing.
MQC-R expands upon the extensive portfolio of cutting-edge, market-leading TD-NMR research tools. When paired with Oxford Instruments’ extensive global customer and application support, it helps researchers to better understand and characterize new materials, develop new products more quickly, and enhance manufacturing procedures.
Explore the MQC-R:
Image Credit: Oxford Instruments - Magnetic Resonance
1. MQC-R Magnet Unit and Probe
- Liquid-controlled variable temperature option
- 23 MHz magnet for fast, high sensitivity TD-NMR analysis
- 26, 18, and 10 mm probes (max. volume = 14 ml) for a wide range of representative sample sizes
- Unique variety of interchangeable 1H, 19F NMR nuclei probes
2. External PC Running Easy-to-Use Software
- Software that is customizable based on the application or applications
- Software packages with an emphasis on industry and research (such as QA/QC)
- Options for sophisticated measurements using software (such as diffusion distributions and 2D relaxation)
3. Moveable Workstation (Option)
The MQC-R may be moved between sites with ease.
4. MQC-R Electronics Unit
Power source and system control for sample heating and routine relaxometry measurements.
5. Gas-Controlled Variable Temperature (Option)
Coming soon
6. Gradient amplifier (Option)
- For diffusion, droplet size distribution, and 1D profile measurements
- Pulsed field gradient capability of over 3.0 T/m (along probe bore)
Note that at least one probe with 1D gradient coils is required.
Applications
Numerous crucial sample qualities can be discovered by the MQC-R through a variety of studies. Important areas of application include:
- Chemical research
- Food science and quality control
- Materials research
- Polymer research and quality control
- Pharmaceutical research
- Battery research
Image Credit: Oxford Instruments - Magnetic Resonance
Batteries
Research on battery materials that offers faster charging and a higher energy density is becoming more and more crucial as demand rises. The measurements used to characterize those materials can be utilized to track their consistency throughout the manufacturing process.
For instance, the physical characteristics of slurry mixtures used for coating are described by 1H relaxation. The coating process can be optimized by using those same metrics to track the uniformity of the slurry composition.
MQC-R is a perfect tool for battery research, development, and manufacturing. It also helps find new battery materials and ensures stringent manufacturing control.
Chemical Research
The MQC-R can be used to study:
- Hydration and aging processes
- Viscosity changes
- Mass transport and diffusion
- Kinetics, including phase transitions during reactions
- Moisture content
- Pore size characterization, e.g. catalysts
- Porous media characterization and fluid transport properties, e.g. concrete
- Droplet size distribution, e.g. paint
Food
The distribution and microstructure of a food's different ingredients, including additives like thickeners, stabilizers, and emulsifiers, have a significant impact on its flavor and texture. Therefore, strong analytical tools are needed in the food business to optimize products and guarantee that they meet quality standards.
MQC-R offers bulk measurements of physical characteristics in meals without modification, in addition to measures of water content, oil content, and solid fat content. The microscopic distribution of water and fat is used to measure this indirectly. NMR relaxation, which measures the mobility and content of water, is very sensitive to its surroundings and macromolecule characteristics, such as protein concentration, aggregation, and denaturation.
Self- and restricted-diffusion can be measured using the pulsed field gradient option; the latter makes it possible to determine the droplet size distributions in emulsions, such as dairy and non-dairy spreads. PFG is also necessary for 1D profiles, or imaging, which can be used to track the movement of solids (sedimentation) and water (hydration) in real time.
For QA/QC, MQC-R offers a quick and simple bulk measurement of droplet size distributions, such as those of margarines. The food emulsions can be cooled with a variable temperature probe to maintain their structure throughout the measurement, which permeates the entire sample, and sample preparation is minimal.
Polymers
With a wide array of commonplace uses, polymers are undoubtedly one of the most important families of functional materials. Given the field's ever-changing improvements, reliable techniques for polymer-related research and quality control are essential. MQC-R provides a broad range of dependable solutions for researching polymer systems, from creating and researching novel materials to processing and final product quality control.
Numerous physical and mechanical characteristics of polymers and elastomers, such as their amorphous or crystalline content, cross-linking density, and crystallization kinetics, can be correlated with 1H relaxation as determined by MQC-R.
Polymer phase transitions can be observed by combining the changing temperature capability with relaxometry. Likewise, fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers can be studied, and their fluorine concentration can be measured via 19F relaxation.
Molecular diffusion, which is related to the molecular weight/molecular weight distribution of an unknown polydisperse polymer, can be measured using MQC-R with pulsed field gradient (PFG) capability.
The MQC-R portfolio of polymer methods can greatly aid R&D. Many of them can be accessed through user-friendly industrial application software commonly used in process and quality control without the need for additional NMR knowledge.
Features
Image Credit: Oxford Instruments - Magnetic Resonance
- 23 MHz magnet: Enables highly sensitive and time-efficient TD-NMR analysis.
- Interchangeable probes: Allows easy switching between sample sizes, nuclei, and variable temperature options.
- 10 - 26 mm diameter probes: Supports a wide range of sample sizes (maximum volume = 14 ml).
- Liquid variable temperature option: Characterizes sample properties at fixed or variable temperatures between –5 and 70 °C.
- The pulsed-field gradient option (over 3.0 T/m) facilitates analyses such as diffusion, droplet size distribution, and 1D profiles.
- Highly configurable with modular upgrades if requirements change
- User-friendly and customizable software: Includes advanced measurement options like 2D relaxation and diffusion distributions.
- Moveable workstation: Enables effortless relocation within the lab or between different locations.
Hardware
Source: Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance
| . |
. |
| Magnetic field strength (operating frequency) |
0.55 Tesla (23 MHz for ¹H) |
| Probe size diameter (sample volume) |
10 mm (1 ml), 18 mm (7 ml), 26 mm (14 ml) |
| P90 (10 mm probe) |
<3 μs |
| Data sampling rate |
Dependent on filters, typically 16 MHz/16 bit |
| Data point capacity |
>128 k |
| RF power |
250 W 10% duty cycle |
| Pulsed field gradients (along probe bore)* |
≥3.0 T/m |
| Liquid-controlled variable temperature probe (¹H only)* |
10 mm or 18 mm, -5 °C to 70 °C (requires additional equipment) |
| Gas-controlled variable temperature probe* |
Coming soon... |
| PC |
External Windows 11 PC and monitor is supplied with research systems. Integrated PC and monitor is supplied for QA/QC only systems, e.g. droplet size. |
*Options
Software
Research Software
Green Imaging powers this specialized, user-focused research software.
Source: Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance
| Package |
Experiments Included |
Standard / Option |
| MQC-R Base |
- Free induction decay for T₂*
- Inversion recovery and saturation recovery T₁
- CPMG and Hahn echo T₂
- Solid echo
- FID-CPMG
|
Standard on all research systems |
| MQC-R Standard Gradient |
- PFG spin echo and stimulated echo diffusion
- 1D Profiles (Spin Echo, SPRITE and SE-SPI)
|
Standard on all research systems with pulsed field gradient hardware |
| MQC-R 2D Relaxometry |
- T₁-T₂ (Inversion and saturation recovery)
- T₂-T₂ exchange
- T₁-T₂* (Saturation recovery - FID)
- T₁-T₂*-T₂ (Inversion Recovery - FID-CPMG)
|
Optional |
| MQC-R Advanced Gradient |
- T₂-Diffusion (2D)
- 1D spatially resolved T₂, T₁ and T₁-T₂
|
Optional, requires pulsed field gradient hardware |
Industry Focused Software
Any Oxford Instruments TD-NMR QA/QC application software (e.g., oil, water, solid fat, fluorine, and amorphous/crystalline content) can be installed alongside the research software. The MQC-R can also be dedicated solely to QA/QC applications supported by its hardware, such as emulsions' droplet size distribution (DSD). In these cases, the MQC-R will be configured exclusively with Oxford Instruments TD-NMR QA/QC application software, with the research software available as an optional upgrade.