WHAT IS AFIT™ TECHNOLOGY?

Problem Solving
AFIT measures the capacity of minerals to absorb surfactants (i.e. foam index) and the dynamics of foams, froths and emulsifiers during their creation and use.

Foams create opportunities and problems:
— Stabilize voids in concrete and insulation
— Instill texture to food and beverages
— Decrease throughput or cause upsets of industrial processes
— Control yield and grade of minerals during production

How It Works

The AFIT technology works because it measures basic physical processes occurring within foams/froths and foaming materials like surfactants during their creation and use. For example, surfactants called air entraining agents (AEA’s) are added to concrete where they impart and then stabilize micron-sized bubbles that remain upon solidification of the concrete. To characterize the effect on AEA’s when coal combustion ashes are used to replace cement, it is necessary to measure foam index values. By automating the foam index measurement, higher-strength concretes can be manufactured using CCA’s so they may replace more expensive and more energy-intensive cement. In other cases, foam dynamics determine the applicability and acceptability of manufactured products, for example, emulsifiers, fire retardants and drilling lubricants. Foam dynamics also dictate process stability and throughput, for example during fermentation or aeration processing at waste treatment facilities.