Moisture tester Sartorius MA35 moisture analyzer

People call us constantly asking us what is the best moisture balance for their applications with so many models on the market - "I don't know what to choose, please HELP". These same people also find most companies selling moisture balances whether a catalog company, industrial supply firm, or "supposed online scale company' know nothing about the product. We really feel this is an injustice since if a company doesn't know what they are selling then they shouldn't be selling the product to begin with, but this is something we can't control. Manufacturers all want their product advertised online and now moisture balances are becoming a commodity sold on price when in reality they are specialized piece of equipment.

Precision Weighing Balances our only business is balances and we like to promote and tout the best product. In our opinion, if the product works for your moisture determination application and is priced right we'll get return business and customer referrals.

For most applications the Sartorius MA35 moisture balance is the best moisture analyzer when considering all the factors. The only exception that comes to mind would be for plastic applications or other substances where the moisture content is less than 1%. For moisture content less than 1% we would recommend the Sartorius MA100C or A&D Weighing MS-70 since it offer much greater readability. PET plastic pellet measurement typically have very low percent moisture less than 0.300% moisture and the MA35 moisture balance can't reliably determine moisture content this low.

Determining moisture in: powders used in some manufacturing process; the food industry for ingredients like flour, powdered milk, corn meal; ingredients for ice cream; the wastewater industry for percent solids in primary and secondary sludge then the MA35 moisture balance is a great choice.

The Sartorius MA35 moisture analyzer was just introduced to the market in 2006 and uses the latest weighing technology - the patented Double Lever System, or DLS, for short and is a magnetic force restoration weigh cell. The exclusive weigh sensor is only found in Sartorius balances and offers superior accuracy and repeatable weighing records with practically zero hystersis.

Sartorius is a global leader in weighing instrumentation and has been building balances since 1871. You name the brand whether it is A&D Weighing, Ohaus, Mettler-Toledo and the numerous other smaller companies and none compare to the expertise in building balances over a longer period of time. You may pay a little more for Sartorius but you are paying for their expertise and a product that works!

The MA35 is Sartorius' replacement to the ever popular MA30. We don't have the numbers but probably the MA30 is the most commonly used moisture balance in the world for units sold. Sartorius discontinued the MA30 in 2003 and Sartorius was hoping customers would purchase the MA45 as the replacement moisture analyzer, but customer feedback changed this marketing strategy.

The MA45 moisture analyzer uses a ceramic heating element and one could consider the heating source similar to the sun where it is hottest in the center and cooler as you move outward from the center. Although the MA45 offered a mode to simulate the MA30 customers found they had to set the temperature 10 to 20 degrees higher to get corresponding results the MA30 produced for percent moisture on their samples.

The difference with the MA30 and the new MA35 is the heating element is metal tubular and this provides more of an oven effect providing intense heat throughout the complete heating chamber thus allowing better drying to all sides of the sample (top, bottom and sides). The MA45 with the ceramic basically dries the sample on the top and more heat is applied to the center than the outer edges.

The ceramic element is still better than the halogen heating element found on most moisture balances since ceramic offers a more gradual and even ramp up temperature in the heating chamber. On the other hand halogen offer fast ramp up temperature, but it is more prone to burning and degrading your sample thus provide inconsistent and false moisture content results.

Although the metal tubular design isn't the fastest design for drying to run the percent moisture test since metal tubular takes longer to heat up over ceramic and halogen we feel it is the best method to determine moisture. Many people call and ask "how fast can I determine the moisture" when really they should be asking "how consistent and accurate are the results with this moisture analyzer over the competitor's moisture analyzer and our answer is always buy the Sartorius MA35 moisture balance.

Halogen is the cheapest heating element to manufacturer and the halogen bulbs burn out. On many models you have to send the moisture balance to the manufacturer for a costly replacement. The ceramic and metal tubular never really burn out or at least we have never had a customer call saying they needed to replace the Sartorius MA35 or MA45 heating element. Since halogen cost less these moisture analyzers are typically less than the Sartorius, but in the long run for downtime and repair cost to replace the heating element the Sartorius will cost you less to operate.

Also halogen consistently overshoots the temperature. If you set the temperature to 110°C the heat on the sample might spike to 120°C or 130°C and then stabilize back to the actual setting of 110°C. These over shots and excessive temperature on your sample may result in burning of organics and incorrect moisture results.

The metal tubular might take 120 seconds to heat to 110°C but it really is 110°C ± 1°C. So sure halogen might go to 110°C in 30 seconds but what good is it if your sample is degraded in the process.

Additional highlights include:

Choice of temperature settings from 104° F to 320° F.

High-contrast black on white display for easy viewing in any environment.

Icon-driven user interface.

Reduction of seldom-used programming options.

Elimination of Program selection menu.

Fast and reliable moisture analysis

Dark Metal Weighing Element

Choice of modes for end point determination

Available in glass-free version for food production areas

We always recommend people purchase moisture pans that are oil free Aluminum and provide even temperature across the pan. If you ever need additional weighing pans we sell them in bulk, 500 pans to a case.

Some people believe that they can reuse the pans but this is never recommended. Although you might clean off the pan the stains leave material from your last test or even moisture when you attempted to clean the pan. Others believe they can use a piece of aluminum foil paper but this isn't always smooth and creates crinkles and thus uneven drying. Always, always, always use a new moisture pan for each test.

Glass fiber pads distribute the heat better, prevents skinning over (this is when bubbles form).

The fiber pads are binder-free borosilicate glass fiber and therefore contain no binders (no foreign materials) or inert.

Slurry samples or when test times are long the sample skins over, bubbles up or splatters when the moisture testing is running, we recommend using filter pads with the moisture pans.

For testing liquids the pads are a must. Place the moisture pan and pad on the moisture balance, adjust the setting time to zero so the Sartorius MA35 moisture analyzer is in auto mode and run the test with no sample on the pad. Many times the fiber pads can hold up to 2% moisture and this preps the pan and fiber pad to be moisture free and only takes typically 1 minute with the MA35 moisture analyzer.

Now with the dry filter pads if you are working with a liquidity substance 70% water or more place the sample with an eye dropper, syringe or pipette is a spiral pattern and then cover with the filter pad.

For slurries and anything with bumps and chucks like corn slurry we recommend using two pads making like a sandwich (bottom pad - test sample - top pad). Place the pan on the moisture balance and then place one pad on your table and then using a syringe or spoon apply the sample to the pad in a spiral pattern and now cover with a second pad. Slightly squish the sandwich you just made to break up any chucks and the filter pads will absorb the moisture. Now place the two pads with your sample sandwiched in-between and run your test. You'll find more consistent and repeatable rest using the two pads.