Laboratory colorimeter

Introduction

A laboratory colorimeter is an instrument used to measure the color of a sample by measuring the absorbance or transmittance of light at specific wavelengths, and it is used in chemistry, food science, water testing, pharmaceuticals, and many other fields for colorimetric analysis and color measurement. The colorimeter consists of a light source, filters or a monochromator that select the measurement wavelengths, typically in the visible region, a sample holder for a cuvette or test tube, a detector, and a display; in operation, the light passes through the sample, and the detector measures the intensity of the transmitted light, which is compared with a reference to determine the absorbance, and the absorbance at specific wavelengths is related to the concentration of the colored species in the sample by the Beer-Lambert law, allowing quantitative analysis, and the colorimeter can also measure the color of the sample in terms of color coordinates for color matching; the colorimeter is simpler and more economical than a spectrophotometer, and it is used with specific filters for specific tests. Laboratory colorimeters are used for measuring the concentration of analytes in colorimetric tests, such as the determination of chlorine, iron, phosphate, and other parameters in water, for measuring the color of food and beverages, for quality control of pharmaceutical products, for measuring the color of chemical solutions, for environmental testing, for teaching, and for many other applications, and they are available as benchtop instruments and portable models, with features such as digital displays, multiple wavelengths, and data analysis. With their color measurement, laboratory colorimeters are essential for colorimetric analysis.

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2010

Laboratory Colorimeter is a compact and bench-top design that offers a measuring range of 0 to 5000 . It has a 7-inch high-resolution touch screen that enables user-friendly navigation. ...

Send Inquiry View more

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2012

Laboratory Colorimeter features a wavelength interval of 10 nm for precise spectral resolution. The instrument supports automatic calibration to ensure long-term measurement stability. I...

Send Inquiry View more

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2014

The color card reading laboratory colorimeter can set L × a × b × value manually for standard samples. The measurement accuracy is assured through the white & black calibration. The c...

Send Inquiry View more

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2013

The color card reading laboratory colorimeter offers the specular component excluded measuring condition, specially designed for color measurement of powders, pasty materials, colloids a...

Send Inquiry View more

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2010

The color card reading laboratory colorimeter reads the colored samples. It is equipped with advanced 2.4 inch screen to display the matching color card number on screen. It comes with b...

Send Inquiry View more

Laboratory Colorimeter LCC-T2011

Laboratory Colorimeter features a wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm for accurate color measurement across the visible spectrum. It is equipped with advanced three easily replaceable meas...

Send Inquiry View more

Standards

ASTM E308-22-Standard Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System

ISO/CIE 11664-4:2019-Colorimetry-Part 4: CIE 1976 L*a*b* colour space

ISO/CIE 11664-6:2022-Colorimetry-Part 6: CIEDE2000 colour-difference formula

Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.

Features

1. Laboratory colorimeter for measuring color and color difference of materials.

2. Tristimulus color measurement for objective color quality control and assessment.

3. Suitable for paint, coating, plastic, textile, food, printing, material and research labs.

4. Includes integrating sphere or 45/0 optical system, light source, detector, software and manual.

5. Supports objective color measurement for quality control, formulation and research.

FAQ

Q1: What testing scenarios is this colorimeter mainly applied to?

A: The laboratory colorimeter is used in paint and coating manufacturing, plastics, textiles, food and beverage, printing ink, automotive, construction, materials science and research to measure the color and color difference of materials objectively using tristimulus color measurement (CIE L*a*b*, L*C*h, XYZ) for quality control, color formulation, batch-to-batch consistency and research. It supports paint and coating color matching and quality control, plastic material color measurement and batch consistency, textile fabric color assessment and grading, food and beverage color measurement (color as quality indicator), printing ink and packaging color control, automotive paint and interior color matching, construction material color measurement, and general color research. The colorimeter provides objective, numerical color measurement that replaces subjective visual assessment, supporting consistent color quality control across materials, batches and production runs.

Q2: What standards does the colorimeter comply with?

A: The laboratory colorimeter follows relevant ISO, ASTM, CIE and GB/T standards for color measurement, including CIE 15:2018 (colorimetry), ISO 7724 (paints and varnishes colorimetry), ASTM D2244 (color differences of opaque materials), ASTM E308 (computing colors), and relevant GB/T standards including GB/T 3979 (object color measurement) and GB/T 7921 (color difference calculation). The hardware complies with IEC 61010 safety standards. Calibration should use certified white tiles (traceable to national standards, e.g., NIST) and verified light source/observer conditions (D65 illuminant, 10 degree observer standard). Users should verify the specific standard for their material type and industry (paint, textile, food, plastic).

Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole colorimeter and key components?

A: The whole laboratory colorimeter is covered by a 12-month warranty. The optical system (integrating sphere or 45/0), light source (pulsed xenon, LED), detector, controller, software and housing are covered, while calibration tiles, light source (if user-replaceable) and fuses are consumables or accessories. Damage from improper use, optical contamination, dropping or unauthorized repair is excluded. Extended service contracts may be available for this color measurement instrument.

Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?

A: Operation requires trained laboratory personnel familiar with color measurement, color science and quality control. We provide operation manuals, training and application support. Proper sample preparation (flat, uniform, representative), calibration (white tile, black trap), measurement geometry selection (SCI/SCE for integrating sphere), color space selection (L*a*b*, L*C*h), illuminant/observer selection (D65/10 degree standard), result interpretation (delta E calculation, pass/fail criteria) and quality control procedures are important for accurate, consistent color measurement.

Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?

A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.

Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?

A: Calibration with certified white tile recommended daily or before each use (black trap calibration as needed). White tile condition checked (clean, no scratches - certified tile should be handled carefully). Light source output and wavelength verification every 6-12 months. Routine verification with a reference color tile per schedule. Full colorimeter performance verification annually. Optical system cleaning (dust on optics affects measurement). Software updates per manufacturer.

Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?

A: Calibration white tiles (certified), black traps, light sources (if user-replaceable), sample holders, cleaning supplies and fuses are available from color measurement suppliers, though tile type should match the instrument. Long-term consumable cost is low (calibration tiles last for years if properly handled).

Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?

A: Customization includes optical geometry (integrating sphere d/8, 45/0), measurement aperture size, illuminant options (D65, A, F2, F7, F11, TL84), observer (2 degree, 10 degree), color spaces (L*a*b*, L*C*h, XYZ, RGB, CMYK), automation level (manual, automatic sample changer), software features (color formulation, quality control, pass/fail, data management), connectivity and accessories. Additional calibration tiles, sample holders and accessories can be ordered separately. Custom orders extend delivery lead-time.

Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?

A: Standard delivery includes the laboratory colorimeter and accessories with an operation manual. On-site installation, calibration and training are not included for standard orders but can be arranged at additional cost. Remote guidance is provided.

Q10: What types of samples are compatible with this equipment?

A: The laboratory colorimeter measures color of opaque and semi-opaque materials including paints, coatings, plastics, textiles, papers, printing inks, food products, ceramics, building materials and other solid/liquid samples within the sample size, opacity, texture and measurement aperture specification. Different sample types require specific preparation: liquids (pours into cuvette or sample cup), powders (pressed into pellet or placed in sample cup), textiles (folded to opacity, measured with specific backing), rough/textured surfaces (may require averaging multiple measurements or specific geometry). Transparent samples require a specific measurement mode (transmittance, not all colorimeters support). Very small samples may require a small aperture (minimum aperture size limits sample size). Very glossy samples may require SCE (specular component excluded) mode for appearance measurement or SCI (specular component included) for colorant measurement. Users should select appropriate optical geometry for the application (integrating sphere d/8 for general color measurement, 45/0 for appearance/visual correlation), use SCI or SCE mode appropriately (SCI for colorant/content measurement, SCE for visual appearance including gloss effects), prepare samples properly (flat, uniform, representative - fold textiles to opacity, pour liquids without bubbles, press powders into flat surface), calibrate with certified white tile before use (and black trap for instruments that require it), use standard illuminant/observer (D65/10 degree is most common, but specify if other conditions are needed - e.g., D50 for graphic arts), measure multiple areas on the sample (for non-uniform samples, average 3-5 measurements), report results in appropriate color space (L*a*b* most common, L*C*h for intuitive hue/chroma, delta E for color difference), and for quality control, establish pass/fail criteria based on delta E tolerance (typically delta E < 1.0 for close match, < 2.0 for acceptable batch variation, depending on industry and customer requirements). The colorimeter should be placed away from direct sunlight and strong ambient light (can interfere with measurement, especially for instruments without proper light shielding). The optical system should be kept clean (dust on integrating sphere or lens affects measurement accuracy - clean per manufacturer instructions with soft brush or compressed air). The calibration white tile should be handled carefully (do not touch the white surface with fingers - oil from skin affects calibration; store in protective case; replace if scratched or discolored). For textured or patterned samples, use a large aperture or average multiple measurements to get representative color. For fluorescent samples (optical brighteners in textiles/papers), use appropriate UV content in the illuminant (D65 includes UV, but some instruments allow UV adjustment - verify the instrument can measure fluorescent samples correctly). The colorimeter should be calibrated periodically (daily white calibration, annual full calibration with certified reference). The measurement should be performed at proper temperature (color can be temperature-dependent for some materials, especially thermochromic materials - condition samples per standard). The color difference (delta E) should be calculated using the appropriate formula (CIE76, CIE94, CIE2000 - CIE2000 is most current and perceptually uniform; specify which formula is used for pass/fail criteria). Waste (tested samples, cleaning materials) should be disposed of per applicable regulations.