Attension® Sigma Force Tensiometers
Attension® Sigma Peak
The Attension® Sigma Peak is a fully automated force tensiometer designed to deliver high-precision surface and interfacial tension measurements. It offers PC-driven or standalone operation modes, a highly sensitive force balance, and optional plug-and-play accessories for temperature regulation, liquid mixing, and static discharge to support both advanced research and routine industrial quality control workflows.
Sensitivity
High resolution balance with a force resolution of 0.01 μN
Modularity
Modules available for temperature control, static discharge, active vibration, and more
CMC Measurement
Automated titration enables continuous surface tension monitoring for accurate CMC determination
ASTM & IEC Protocols
Choose from pre-configured recipes for ASTM & IEC standards or build your own
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Maximum Experimental Flexibility and Automation for Surface and Interfacial Science
Sigma Peak is a multipurpose force tensiometer that bridges the gap between complex experimental research and fast, routine quality control measurements. It offers standalone operation with an integrated touchscreen for guided workflows, including density and built-in ASTM and IEC standard methods for Transformer Oil analysis, with no PC required. This functionality is also available with more advanced PC-controlled operation using the OneAttension software for the full suite of measurement modes and complete experimental flexibility.
This dual functionality enables users to move effortlessly between detailed method development and quick decision-making workflows without switching instruments.
At the core of Sigma Peak is an ultra-sensitive force balance that records forces between a probe and an interface. There are two different balance options, one that offers a higher load capacity for using larger or heavier probes, and one with finer balance resolution for precision measurements. These measurements are used to determine key liquid and surface properties such as surface tension, interfacial tension, wettability, adhesion, and density, among others.
The high-resolution balance offers:
- 0.001 mN/m surface/interfacial tension resolution
- 0.001 mg mass resolution
- 0.01 µN force resolution
- 0.0001 g/cm³ density resolution
- 0.01° contact angle resolution
Sigma Peak: Standard
The standard Attension Sigma Solo, meaning accurate, automated standalone force tensiometer built for routine testing and quality control.
Sigma Peak: Critical Micelle Concentration
The Attension Sigma Peak CMC is designed to automate one of the most important measurements in surfactant research: determining the CMC. By continuously measuring surface tension as surfactant concentration changes, the system accurately identifies the concentration at which micelles begin to form.
Supported measurements
Surface Tension/ Interfacial Tension
Measures forces at a liquid’s surface or at an interface between two dissimilar phases.
Applications:
Detergents, agrochemicals, paints, food science, pharmaceuticals
Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC)
Measures the surfactant concentration where micelles form
Applications:
Pharmacology, contaminants, detergents, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) studies, cosmetics
Surface Free Energy (SFE)
Evaluates how easily liquids spread or stick to a solid surface by measuring surface wettability
Applications:
Surface cleanliness, powder processing, adhesives, paints
Powder Wettability (Washburn)
Capillary-driven liquid rise through packed powder bed
Applications:
Fabrics, soil, carbon fibers, inks, paints, food science
Adhesion Force
Measures the force that is required to detach a liquid droplet from a surface
Applications:
Self-cleaning surfaces, coating durability, ink adhesion, surface treatments, micro-textured surfaces
Sedimentation
Determines sedimentation rate using the mass of collected sediment in a liquid
Applications:
Cosmetics, food science, pharmaceuticals, paints, coatings, environmental science
Density
Determines the density of a liquid using a probe of known weight, or the density of a solid using a liquid of known density
Applications:
Oil, food science, pharmaceuticals, coatings
Attension® Sigma Peak
Product Features
Fully Automated Measurements
Mount your sample or probe, select your measurement method, and the instrument performs the experiment without user intervention. Predefined methods and guided workflows ensure consistency across users while reducing overall experiment time and operator variability.
Two Ways to Operate
Operate Sigma Peak either as a standalone instrument using the integrated touchscreen or through full PC control with the OneAttension software. In standalone mode, the touchscreen runs core measurements directly on the instrument, so you get compliant, standardized results without a connected PC. This dual mode functionality is particularly useful in shared labs where both expert users and occasional operators rely on the same system.
Wide Range of Measurement Modes
Sigma Peak supports a complete suite of force tensiometry techniques, including surface tension, interfacial tension, dynamic contact angle, CMC, adhesion force, sedimentation, density, and powder wettability. These measurements are enabled by an ultra-sensitive microbalance that accurately records forces at interfaces. This versatility allows users to characterize both liquid properties and solid-liquid interactions in a single system.
Versatile Probe Handling
Flexible probe mounting allows users to hang probes for optimal alignment or fix them in place. This ensures stable measurements across a wide range of applications and simplifies setting up for both standard and non-standard test conditions.
Fixed balance hook option enables:
- The study of viscous or dense liquids whose surface is ordinarily too difficult for the probe to penetrate.
- The use of broad probes such as sedimentation pans that can struggle to penetrate the liquid surface with a free hanging hook setup
High-Precision Sample Stage
A motorized sample stage with the largest vertical movement of 125 mm of any force tensiometer, is crucial for tall samples and probes and provides more convenience during set up. The extended range also allows analysis of samples with irregular geometry.
The positioning resolution of 16 nm enables precise positioning and smooth motion during measurements. This is critical for dynamic experiments such as contact angle and wettability studies, where positioning accuracy directly impacts data quality.
Protective Doors for Stable Measurements
Protective doors shield the measurement zone from air currents, reducing the effect of air flow on sensitive readings. This improves baseline stability and repeatability, especially in busy lab environments.
ASTM & IEC Standard Methods
In standalone mode, Sigma Peak can run ASTM and IEC standard methods for Transformer Oil quality testing. This lets users carry out standardized protocols directly on the instrument’s touchscreen display, then export pre-configured reports based on each standard’s reporting requirements.
Attension® Sigma Peak
Accessories
Integrated Environmental Monitoring and Control
Temperature, pH, and mixing conditions can significantly influence interfacial measurements. Sigma Peak supports integration of optional temperature probes, pH sensors, and stirrers to monitor and control experimental conditions in real-time. This improves reproducibility and ensures results more accurately reflect real-world environments.
Ionizer for Static Discharge Control
Static charge can introduce noise and instability in ultra-sensitive force measurements, particularly in dry lab environments or low-force applications. An optional ionizer neutralizes electrostatic charges around the measurement zone, improving baseline stability. This results in improved repeatability and higher confidence in precision measurements.
Automated Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) Measurements
The Sigma Peak CMC is designed to automate one of the most important measurements in surfactant research: determining the CMC. By continuously measuring surface tension as surfactant concentration changes, the system accurately identifies the concentration at which micelles begin to form.
Attension® Sigma Peak
OneAttension Software
Sigma Peak is powered by OneAttension, a comprehensive software platform that delivers:
- Fully automated measurement workflows
- Custom measurement recipes
- Automated measurement sequences
- Real-time data analysis and visualization
- Intuitive user interface for all experience levels
- Flexible recipe-based experiment setup
- Free software & upgrades with unlimited licenses
The software combines all force tensiometry measurement modes into a single interface, with no additional modules to purchase, simplifying both data acquisition and analysis while improving reproducibility.
Attension® Sigma Peak
Product Knowledgebase
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