The color of transparent liquids is critical as a change can indicate contamination or impurities in the raw material, process variations caused by heating and oxidation, or degradation of products exposed to weathering over time. Visual tests have been established by comparing the sample to a known standard. Today, objective measurements can be done with color spectrophotometers that give reliable data on a consistent basis. Besides degree of yellowness, such spectrophotometers also describe color differences three dimensionally: red/green, yellow/blue and light/dark differences.
The LCM IV is a reliable color instrument which replaces conventional visual color evaluation with an objective measurement. It is ideal for routine production control of clear, transparent liquids like resins, adhesives and solvents.
The LCS IV is a highly precise color instrument which spectrally measures all color shades of optically clear, transparent liquids using the dual beam principle. Besides the conventional visual color numbers (Gardner, Iodine, Hazen (APHA) etc.) the LCS IV can also measure opponent color systems such as CIELab, CIELCh and Hunter Lab under the conditions of illuminant A, C, D65 and 2°/10° Standard Observer.
The Gardner Liquid Color Standard Comparator provides the entire Gardner Color Scale, against which a liquid sample can be visually compared.
The sealed tubes are filled with Cobalt Chloride Platinate solutions of varying concentrations, which correspond to known Scale yellowness value numbers 1 – 18. The solutions are standardized at 25 °C (77 °F), but visual evaluations made between 20 °C (68 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) are substantially correct.
Two models are available: with or without illumination.
Model No. |
Description |
Illumination |
Dimensions |
Weight |
CL-6726 / CL-6727 |
Gardner Liquid Standards with illumination |
Fluorescent Lamp |
660x152x152mm (26x6x6 in) |
6.35 kg (14 lbs) |
CL-6724 |
Gardner Liquid Standards without illumination |
N / A |
629x143x64mm (24.75x5x2.5 in) |
2.3 kg (5 lbs) |
The Gardner Delta Color Comparator uses precision-polished optical-glass filters as reference standards. Two different models are available: with or without illumination.
The comparator is an arrangement of two wheels in which nine color filters are imbedded in each wheel. The glass filters range in color from water white through deep amber. A tube of the sample liquid is placed between the two filter wheels. The user then rotates the color wheels until the filter glass closest in color to the liquid is in place. That filter notation then becomes the color description for the liquid.
Model No. |
Description |
Illumination |
Dimensions |
Weight |
CL-6745 / CL-6746 |
Gardner Delta Color Comparator with illumination |
Incandescent Lamp |
171x203x229mm (6.75x8x9 in) |
2.7 kg (6 lbs) |
CL-6750 |
Gardner Delta Color Comparator without illumination |
N / A |
159x19x81mm (6.25x0.75x3.2 in) |
0.45 kg (1 lbs) |
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