Solids Solutions: the expert in powder and particle testing

Whether it is a velvety cocoa drink, an ultra-smart battery powder or a hyperactive catalyst for sustainable fuels: every product starts with solid particles. Solids Solutions from Wateringen (near Delft) has been the Dutch knowledge and testing lab that has been understanding exactly those solid particles for over forty years. The contract research agency combines high-tech measuring equipment with a practical, hands-on mentality, helping companies worldwide to speed up their processes, improve their products and increase their efficiency.

What does Solids Solutions do?

Solids Solutions positions itself as an independent Contract Research Organisation (CRO), specialising in powder and particle characterisation. This includes measurements of

• Porosity and specific surface area – crucial for adsorbents, catalysts and pharmaceutical tablets.
• Particle size and shape – from nanoparticles to granules of several millimetres, measured by laser diffraction, image analysis and sieve shakers.
• Density, bulk and tap density – indispensable for packaging, transport and pressing processes.
• Mechanical properties – such as fracture strength, abrasion and dust formation.

In addition to the analytical laboratory, Solids Solutions has pilot plants for pneumatic conveying, storage and silo design. This is how they link data directly to process reality.

Areas of expertise in a nutshell

1. Materials development – Together with universities and industry, the team develops new powder formulations, e.g. for 3D printing or battery cells.
2. Troubleshooting & consultancy – From clogged hoppers to segregation in mixers: Solids Solutions looks for the cause and provides practical solutions.
3. Training courses & seminars – Every year, hundreds of engineers attend training courses on powder technology, both in Wateringen and in-company.

The flowability of powder: why it matters

Powders sometimes behave more idiosyncratically than liquids: they can form bridges, rattle, clump or just create dust clouds. Solids Solutions investigates flowability of powder with shear testers, ring shear cells and a modern dynamic flow meter platform. Parameters such as shear stress, compressibility and cohesion index are measured under realistic moisture and temperature conditions.

For the customer, the lab translates those numbers into concrete process recommendations: adjust hopper angle, install vibrating floor or add anti-caking agent. The result? A stable supply to tablet presses, uniform coating in spray dryers or simply less downtime due to blockages.

Catalyst characterisation: from porosity to performance

Catalysts are the invisible engine in chemical reactors. Their effectiveness strongly depends on active surface area, porosity, porous distribution and mechanical strength. Solids Solutions carries out complete catalyst characterisation processes:

• BET surface and porosity analysis via nitrogen adsorption and mercury porosimetry.
• Temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation (TPR/TPO) to identify active metal particles.
• Krus and attrition tests to predict particle strength and dust formation in “fixed bed” or “fluid bed” reactors.

This allows refineries or biomass plants to extend their catalyst life, optimise regeneration schedules and design more sustainable processes.

Innovation and collaboration

Solids Solutions works closely with top institutes such as TU Delft, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and international industry giants in pharma, food, energy and construction. Their open innovation model means that knowledge from one sector – e.g. anti-segregation in coffee powder – is rapidly applied in another sector, such as metal powders for additive manufacturing.