Accurate weighing is a critical step in the production process of many products. It ensures that all ingredients, raw materials and finished goods look and taste the same.
To get a good measuring result, it is important to understand the causes of errors in laboratory balances. This includes factors such as balance drift, air currents or lack of thermal equilibrium.
Scales
The weighing process requires accurate scales to get the most precise results. From measuring medication to determining the amount of fuel a plane will need, scales help almost every industry to achieve more accuracy and efficiency.
While there is still a great need for the traditional analog scale, digital scales have become the standard for many applications, from checkout at the grocery store to industrial weighing. But just how accurate are these scales? In one study, researchers tested the accuracy of several different types of scales with a variety of test loads. They found that accuracy and imprecision were inversely proportional to weight load, and did not vary by scale type. The researchers also found that sensitivity determination was an important factor in scale performance. Those results suggest that using the smallest mass standard possible to calibrate a scale can significantly improve accuracy. Using METTLER TOLEDO’s MiraCal+ software and GWP (Gross Weighing Protocol), you can ensure that your facility’s scales are calibrated at the right frequency to maintain quality assurance, ISO 9001 compliance, and consistent weighing results.
Weighing Paper
A necessary lab tool for accurate measurements, weighing paper is available in different types and sizes to suit specific applications. Choose papers that indicate they’re free of nitrogen and have a non-absorbing surface, as this helps prevent corrosion of the samples you’re working with. Look for weighing papers that fold and crease easily, as this can make the transfer of sample easier.
Weighing is an effective and economical method of measuring dry bulk material quantities. It’s also ideal for corrosive materials, as it doesn’t require contact with the substance being measured.
The weighing process is most effective when the balance is carefully zeroed (reads zero with nothing on the balance pan). It should be kept in a room with a steady temperature and humidity, away from sources of vibration and static electricity. The weighing pan must be clean and dry before adding any material to avoid moisture absorption, as this can affect the measurement result.
Weighing Boats
Weighing boats are a useful accessory for the modern analytical balance to make weighing operations faster and more accurate. They are plastic disposable containers that come in a variety of shapes and sizes with flat, shallow bases to allow them to sit securely on the weighing platform and prevent tipping. They are also available in a range of capacities from a few milliliters to several liters.
A molded pour spout on one end of the weighing boat is designed to help transfer liquids and powdered materials safely without spilling or contamination. They are commonly used in chemistry and biology laboratories to measure and transfer liquids, powders and pellets for weighing.
When using a weighing boat to transfer samples, it’s important to follow weighing etiquette so that the sample is not lost during the transfer process. This involves tareing the balance with the empty weighing boat and then transferring the sample to a receiving container. It’s also important to note that any remaining substance on the rim of the weighing boat may affect the final weight measurement.
Containers
Many weighing applications involve liquids and the correct method for transferring them to your analytical balance is vitally important. Chemical substances should only be added directly to the weighing container that will hold them and never to a pan or weighing paper, as even slight differences in temperature can lead to errors, instability and frustratingly slow weighing results.
Containers should be sealed whenever possible to prevent evaporation of volatile chemicals, and the material of the container should not generate electrostatic charges. Using laboratory-grade weighing paper rather than household parchment also helps prevent sample loss and ensures a precise measurement result.
These issues and many more can occur when attempting to weigh containers, but the good news is that there are solutions to overcome them. Dedicated LIMS software, such as Titian’s Mosaic, can help streamline the weighing process and allow operators to work quickly and accurately, while maintaining a full audit trail of all dispenses.