Halogen Moisture Analyzer for Paper and Board

What is the Halogen Moisture Analyzer for Paper and Board?

A halogen moisture analyzer dries a small paper specimen on an integrated balance and reports moisture from the mass loss. It gives results in minutes and is used for routine control where the oven method would be too slow.

Overview

The specimen is placed in a disposable pan, weighed automatically and heated by a halogen radiator while the balance monitors mass continuously until the mass loss rate falls below a set threshold. The final value is calculated against either wet or dry mass and displayed as a percentage, together with the drying curve. Because heating conditions differ from an oven, results are not automatically identical: the halogen method may report slightly higher moisture if other volatiles are driven off, so correlation with the oven reference method must be established for each grade and documented as a conversion or offset. Drying temperature, endpoint criterion and specimen mass are the parameters that control the result and should be fixed in the procedure.

How does it work?

All moisture methods compare the mass of water in the sample with either the wet mass or the dry mass, and the chosen reference must always be reported because moisture content and dry matter content give different numbers. The reference method dries a specimen to constant mass in an oven at a specified temperature and calculates the mass loss. Halogen drying performs the same measurement quickly on a built-in balance, using a halogen radiator for faster and more uniform heating, and requires correlation with the oven method for each paper grade. Karl Fischer titration is a chemical method: iodine reacts quantitatively with water, and the endpoint is detected electrochemically, so it measures water specifically and is unaffected by other volatile substances. Microwave and near-infrared instruments measure indirectly through absorption or dielectric response and need calibration against a reference method.

What are the key features?

• Integrated balance with 1 mg resolution
• Halogen radiator for rapid heating
• Programmable drying temperature and endpoint
• Drying curve display and storage
• Wet or dry basis result selection
• Correlation offset with the oven method

What are the technical specifications?

A typical halogen moisture analyzer for paper and board configuration offers balance resolution of 1 mg, moisture readability of 0.01%, temperature range of 50–200 °C, drying profiles of Standard, rapid, step and gentle, endpoint criterion of Mass loss per time threshold and typical specimen mass of 3–10 g. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Halogen Moisture Analyzer for Paper and Board is used in routine moisture control in paper mills, converting shop verification before printing, coated board moisture checks and incoming verification when the oven method is too slow. Across the wider Moisture Testing class, laboratories also deploy it for incoming moisture checks on pulp and recovered paper, machine-direction moisture control during papermaking and finishing and converting moisture verification.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 287, ISO 638, ISO 760, TAPPI T412, ASTM D644, ASTM D6869 and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Sample handling dominates the uncertainty because paper equilibrates with the surrounding air within minutes. Cut sealed specimens, weigh them quickly in a closed container, and record the temperature and relative humidity of the laboratory, since the standard equilibrium condition defines the moisture of a well-conditioned sheet. Oven temperature, drying time and the use of a desiccator before weighing must follow the method, and the balance should be checked with certified masses. For indirect instruments, recalibrate whenever furnish, coating, grade or basis weight changes, and keep the reference results used to build the calibration. Store paper samples away from heat and direct sunlight before testing.

How do I select the right Halogen Moisture Analyzer for Paper and Board?

Choose a halogen analyzer for routine control where a result in minutes is required, and confirm that the drying temperature and endpoint settings have been correlated with the oven method for each grade. Check the readability against the tolerance of your specification, since thin papers with a narrow moisture window need the better of the available models.

How does it compare with other Moisture Testing variants?

Choose the reference oven method when a specification value is required, since almost all paper moisture standards are written around it. Select a halogen instrument for routine control where speed matters, but establish and document the correlation with the oven method for each grade, including for coated and highly filled papers. Karl Fischer titration suits samples where volatile substances other than water are present, such as papers containing solvents, and can be combined with an oven accessory for solid samples that do not disperse. Microwave and near-infrared instruments are chosen for production use: the near-infrared systems mount on the machine and measure across the full web width continuously, while microwave instruments suit bale and stack checking on the floor.