Analysis of Factors of Measurement Error of Digital Refractometer
Refractometers are typical lab equipment that can be used to analyze the optical characteristics, purity, concentration, and dispersion of various substances. It is extensively utilized in scientific research as well as in the oil, paint, sugar, food, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and other industries. When light is irradiated into a substance, the refractive index that is created can be measured by a refractometer to identify the substance's properties.We cannot ignore these inaccuracies while using measuring equipment, but rather, we should take them into consideration to maintain the accuracy of the measurement. Since it is a measurement instrument, it will unavoidably be affected by many elements, leading to certain errors in the measurement findings. Wavelength of the light, temperature, air pressure, and other variables all have an impact on the refractometer. The inaccuracies brought on by various impacting factors vary. When measuring, you should plan ahead and have a strategy in place! In this article, let's talk about the impact of refractometer measurement. Temperature and light wavelength are the two main sources of inaccuracy.
The first is the refractometer's measurement of refractive index and its relationship to light wavelength. Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 0.1mm to 0.1wm are referred to as light waves. This electromagnetic wave has a long or short wavelength, and differing wavelength lengths affect the refractive index. The refractive index changes with wavelength length, becoming lower for longer wavelengths and bigger for shorter wavelengths.When measuring the refractive index, we often utilize a white light source. As white light is refracted by the prism and the sample liquid, the degree of refraction of various wavelengths varies, and as a result, white light is decomposed into a variety of colorful lights. This phenomenon is known as dispersion. Also, the presence of so many hues will make it difficult for the line of sight to discriminate between light and dark, which will lead to measurement inaccuracies. The refractometer has a unique design that can effectively address this issue, which involves installing a dispersion compensator at the lower end of the observation tube.
The second is how temperature affects the refractometer's refractive index. When the solution's temperature varies, the observed refractive index also varies. The following chart illustrates the precise link between temperature and refractive index. Generally speaking, the refractive index falls as temperature rises and rises as temperature decreases. As a result, it's important to make sure that the temperature during the measurement is 20°C and that the refractometer's temperature marker is 20°C as well. If maintaining a temperature of 20°C is truly unachievable, the situation can be managed as follows: when the temperature exceeds 20°C, add the correction number; otherwise, subtract the correction number.To verify the measurement's correctness in this situation, it is also possible to deduct the error value. In addition to preventing the interference of the aforementioned two elements, it is vital to correctly operate the instrument and perform zero adjustment prior to use in order to minimise the measurement error of the refractometer.
