What is a Colorimeter ?

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A colorimeter is a light-sensing device that is used to measure the absorbance and transmittance of light as it moves through a sample of liquid.

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The main components of a colorimeter include:

• Illuminant: A specific, fixed light source that passes through the object.

• Cuvette: A sample holder where the liquid is placed.

• Standard observer: A two-degree standard observer, which is a small and specific field of view.

• Photocell: A system that detects light passing through the sample.

• Tristimulus absorption filter: A filter that isolates specific wavelengths to be applied to the sample.

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There are two different types of colorimeters:

• Color densitometers: Measure the density of primary colors.

• Color photometers: Measure color transmission and reflection.

Colorimeters may also be compact and portable to use on the go or larger for benchtop use in a lab.

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Colorimeters are straightforward color comparison tools that are often confused with spectrophotometers. However, colorimeters have a more limited range of capabilities than spectrophotometers.

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How Does a Colorimeter Work?

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A colorimeter’s function is based on Beer-Ambert’s Law, which postulates that the absorption and concentration of a liquid sample are directly proportional. To analyze color against an existing standard, the colorimeter sends an illuminate through a liquid sample.

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The colorimeter’s lens and tristimulus absorption filter turn the beam of light into an isolated wavelength. The photocell evaluates how much of the wavelength was absorbed, and the device returns the results on its digital display.

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Colorimeters and spectrophotometers are two of the most advanced color measurement devices. Although they are closely related, they each have unique pros and cons that make them best suited to different types of measurements.

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Applications

Food and Beverage - Color is one of the most important aspects of foods and beverages. Although color does not generally indicate whether a food is safe, a food or beverage whose color is unappealing will likely not be purchased or consumed. Accordingly, food and beverage manufacturers they try to control the color of their products and use various instruments to measure product color, both in the laboratory and online.

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Paints - The paint is a material that is commonly used in almost every industry and even in the domestic products. The color of a paint material is one of the most important aspects of the quality of the paint which defines its vibrancy and appearance. The Paint manufacturers must keep I mind that they should not deliver the materials to the clients and customers without checking the quality of color of the paints.

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Plastics - Color analysis for plastic and polymer additives can be used to assess the specific changes needed to improve the performance of your products. Color measurement provides information not only on color-changing additives, but can also measure molecular changes in stabilizers, fillers, processing aids, and antibacterial additives. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this technology has revolutionized the polymer manufacturing industry.

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Textile- Color spaces are widely used in the textile industry for the purpose of accurate color matching and ensuring the best color quality of products. The textile products greatly depend on their appearance for their popularity. If a product is not incorporated with the best color quality, then it can have a negative impact on the popularity of the products.

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Automobiles- Almost all products that make the automotive industry, from interior or from exterior, require consistency in their visual appearance. External body, tyres, bumpers, mirrors, doors, dashboards, roofs and many other things require uniformity and consistency in their color and gloss. Difference in shade of 2 cars with the same color will throw the brand image of the manufacturer into bad light. 

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Others  - Other than the above-mentioned industries, colour meters are also widely used in medicine, printing, post harvest and many other aplpications.