Lab-Tools Ltd.

Nano- to Micro- Science & Metrology,
Scientific Instrumentation and Software.

Lab-Tools.com

Publications:
~ 90 papers
+ 70 conferences


Our Sites:
Nano- to Meso-scale
research and modeling:
nano-science.co.uk
Volumetric Metrology
research and analysis:
nano-metrology.co.uk
Porous Materials
research and analysis:
porous-media.co.uk
NMR pore measurement
research and analysis:
cryoporometry.com
Instrumentation
and software design:
lab-tools.com/
instrumentation/

Porous mateials studied:
Sol-gel & CPG silicas
MCM templated silicas
SBA templated silicas
Activated carbons
Zeolites
Cement & Concrete
Fired & unfired clays
Marine Sediments
Chalks, Shales
Sandstones
Oil-bearing rocks
Meteorites
Wood
Paper
Rubbers
Emulsions & Paint
Artificial skin
Bone
Melanised fungal cells

Lab-Tools Ltd. is a micro/SME spin-off company specialising in nano-science, nano-metrology and instrumentation design.

  • Nano-science :
    • Nano-scale properties of liquids in pores and at interfaces;
    • Application of the Gibbs equations to the nano-scale dynamics of liquids.
  • Nano-metrology :
    • Bulk nano-scale to micro-scale structural characterisation;
    • NMR Cryoporometry measurements of pore size distributions and pore volume;
    • NMR Cryoporometry and neutron scattering techniques to measure pore dimensions.
  • Instrumentation :
    • USB interfaced instruments based on VLSI, FPGAs and array-processing software.
Lab-Tools develop and operate NMR Cryoporometry apparatus that is optimised to measure pore sizes, pore size distributions and pore volumes and to study materials that are structured on a 1nm to 1µm length scale. Most finely porous materials are suitable for such studies, provided that a liquid can be added or is already present.

This apparatus is based on wide-temperature range low-field NMR relaxation spectrometers with ultra-precise temperature control.  Background information on the Cryoporometric technique is available at    www.cryoporometry.com/  .

Lab-Tools performs Contract Measurements on Porous Systems for both academia and industry.

Lab-Tools performs Academic Research to study the properties of liquids and their ices / gas hydrates in structured materials and at interfaces.

The studies we perform are relevant to :

  •  Water/ oil / gas / gas hydrate extraction.
  •  Construction industry : cement / concrete / clay / wood - pore size distributions and water content.
  •  Food, paint, biological interfaces and medical materials.

Lab-Tools performs industrial contract analyses and also joins with other bodies such as universities to perform academic research. Lab-Tools has close ties with academics at a number of universities.

Lab-Tools performs contract analyses of Pore Size Distributions using NMR Cryoporometry :

Lab-Tools has successfully measured pore sizes in a wide range of porous materials, including oil and/or water wet materials. NMR Cryoporometry is one of the few techniques that can be applied to materials that can not be dried out without losing their structure. The technique is non-destructive, and can be used to follow evolution of pore structure for evolving systems.

The Lab-Tools pore-size distribution measurement range extends from about 1nm to over 2µm. NMR Cryoporometry measures both the total pore volume and the pore volume distribution as a function of pore diameter.
We frequently find that NMR Cryoporometry (NMRC) may be preferable to more established methods such as BET gas adsorption or DSC thermal porisimetry, and can now also provide information on both pore diameter and pore throat size, unlike Hg Intrusion, which just measures the pore throat.

NMR Cryoporometry measurement costs are very competitive (~£100 to £250 per instrument-day). Cost per sample depends on the pore-size range to be covered, and precision needed, but goes down markedly for multiple-sample batches. Two free measurements are normally available for you to evaluate the technique for your samples. Please contact Dr. Beau Webber to discuss pore size measurements on your samples.

Academic Consultants :

Prof John H. Strange:
(NMR & porous media) : Emeritus Professor of Experimental Physics, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NZ. Publications

Prof J. C. Dore:
(Neutron scattering & liquids in confined geometry) :
Emeritus Professor in Condensed Matter Physics, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NZ Publications

Normalised example pore size distributions, measured by NMR Cryoporometry.
Normalised example pore size distributions, measured by NMR Cryoporometry.
Pore size sistributions for a clay fired at three different temperatures, measured by NMR Cryoporometry.
Pore size distributions for a clay fired at three different temperatures, measured by NMR Cryoporometry.
2D Resolved Pore Sizes.
2D Resolved Pore Sizes - 4 tubes with different nano-pores, measured by spatially resolved NMR Cryoporometry.
Quote : "The distribution of water in unconventional gas formations (tight gas sands and shale gas) could dominate the energy market over the next century."
"... there is a fundamental lack of knowledge of the pore systems of shales and NMR-C is one of the few techniques that provides data on pore structure on a length scale that is relavent."
- Prof Quentin Fisher : Earth Sciences, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT :
  • Professor of Petroleum Geoengineering;
  • Research Director for the Centre of Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience;
  • Manager of the Sorby Multiphase Laboratory, Rock Deformation Research Limited.
 Lab-Tools is already studying these materials for academic and industrial projects. The techniques we use are one of the few that can be applied to these particular wet samples.

Address:
Lab-Tools Ltd.
Unit 6F, Thomas Way,
LakesView International Business Park,
Hersden, Canterbury,
Kent. CT3 4JZ
Contact:
Dr. Beau Webber
J.B.W.Webber@kent.ac.uk Lab: 07544 915 464
Mob: 07875 170 593
Publications
Research home page
Event Photo-reports
Lab-Tools Tech-Tips

Lab-Tools is a Micro/SME spin-off from the University of Kent Physics department, and still has a base in the Enterprise Hub at that university, but has now moved the research and development laboratory to a new location on the SEEDA LakesView International Business Park at Canterbury.

Director Dr. Beau Webber holds honorary research fellow positions at both the University of Kent and Heriot-Watt University, and has an extensive publication record in the fields of nano-metrology and the properties of liquids, ices and gas-hydrates in pores and at interfaces :
               www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/publications/jbww.htm

Recent Grants : Director Dr. Beau Webber as recently completed an academic project using Lab-Tools' capabilities, together with the Centre for Gas Hydrates Research at the Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, for three years, to a value of £285,731. :
EPSRC: EP/D052556/1 : "Capillary controls on gas hydrate growth and dissociation in synthetic and natural porous media: PVT, NMR, Neutron Diffraction and SANS". Final Grant Report

We have developed and demonstrated the first practical protocol for making 1, 2 and 3 dimensionally resolved measurements of volumetric metrology.
We have jointly with Cambridge University written a Review of NMR Cryoporometry, now published in Physics Reports :
                 dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.physrep.2008.02.001  .

Lab-Tools performs contract measurements for a number of national and international companies in the construction industry and oil / well-logging industries.

Our techniques are based on both physical thermodynamics and scattering techniques, and we can apply a range of NMR, X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, as well as the more conventional gas adsorption and thermoporosimetry techniques.

The strength of Lab-Tools in the nano- to micro-scale field is based on a strong record of academic research, combined with extensively applied metrology, and the proven ability to implement novel measurement protocols with appropriate combinations of apparatus and software.

Please do contact Dr. Beau Webber J.B.W.Webber@kent.ac.uk if you think these measurement techniques might complement your research studies. Two preliminary measurements on your samples are usually available at no charge.
  • We are very pleased to be a partner in academic research, fundable by grants, to which these techniques could provide a novel insight, and leading to further publications in journals.
  • We are also interested in extending the range of these techniques into new fields; please contact us if you have samples that you would be interested in characterising on either an academic research basis, leading to publication, or on a commercially funded basis.
  • If you are developing a new measurement technique that requires novel apparatus, Lab-Tools can apply a powerful set of physical, mathematical and software tools to help realise this instrumentation.

Nano- to Meso-scale properties of liquids
and their solids :
research and modeling.

 nano-science.co.uk

Nano- to Micro-scale Volumetric Metrology :
research and analysis.

 nano-metrology.co.uk

Lab Tools Instrumentation :
Scientific Instrumentation and Software Design.

 lab-tools.com/instrumentation


Dr. Beau Webber : 2005-05-15 ... 2011-02-19