Particle characterisation

Malvern Mastersizer 3000 PSA

Our Mastersizer system allows particle size distribution to be measured via laser diffraction. A laser is passed through a dispersed particulate sample and the intensity of light scattered at different angles recorded. This diffraction pattern is correlated with modelled size distributions.

Our current capabilities are for wet dispersion only, in either water or IPA. The system has a measurement range of 0.01μm - 2mm when using wet dispersion.

Applications

Particle size distribution has a direct effect on various material properties, such as

• reactivity or dissolution rate
• stability in suspension
• efficiency of delivery
• viscosity
• flowability

Specification

Particle size range	0.01 μm to 2mm (for wet dispersion)
Accuracy	Better than 1%
Repeatability	Better than 0.5% variation
Reproducibility	Better than 1% variation
Detection systems	Red light - forward, side and back scattering Blue light - wide angle forward and back scattering
Dispersion	Wet (water or IPA)
Measurement principle	Mie and Fraunhofer scattering

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Micromeritics AccuPyc II 1340

The Micromeritics helium gas displacement pycnometer allows the non-destructive measurement of volume and density of powder and solid materials. An inert gas (helium) is used as a displacement medium. Since the sample is sealed a compartment of known volume, when the purge gas is admitted and then expanded into a second internal volume, the pressure before and after expansion can be measured and used to determine sample volume.

Absolute (or true) density, ie the density obtained where the volume measured excludes pores and voids between particles, is determined using helium pycnometry.

Applications

• Density determination
• Volume determination

Specifications

Precision	+/- 0.01% (typical) +/- 0.02% (guaranteed)
Accuracy	Within 0.03% reading, plus 0.03% of sample capacity
Gas	Research grade helium
Sample cell size	1cm3 or 0.1cm3 available
Temperature	Not controlled