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What are the commonly used media and requirements?

2023-01-11WIKI

For particle size analysis using the wet method, the most commonly used medium is water, followed by organic solvents, such as absolute ethanol. Compressed nitrogen and air are usually applied as the media for the dry method. The role of the medium is to allow the particles to be distributed evenly during measurement.

 

4 containers containing water, organic solvent, compressed air and nitrogen gas

 

For liquid medium, the following conditions should be satisfied:

  • The medium should be pure without impurities.
  • The sample dispersed in the medium should not be swollen or shrunk; the medium should be inert to the sample.
  • The medium should have good miscibility with the particles; in other words, the surface-wetting effect should be obvious.
  • In the presence of the medium, the particles are well dispersed.
  • The temperature difference between the medium and the working environment should be as small as possible in order to reduce the possibility of condensation on the sample cell.

 

The requirements for the gaseous medium are that the medium should be pure, dry, non-toxic, odorless, and cost-effective. The gas pressure should be adjustable up to 4bar normally but occasionally up to 6bar. For friable materials, the pressure may need to be controlled down to 0.5bar.

 

 

 

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Recommended articles

How are particles dispersed when using the wet method?

In laser diffraction particle size analysis, inaccurate results can be caused by particles agglomerating in the suspension, especially when they are fine. Therefore, a full dispersion of the sample prior to measurement is essential.

How are particles dispersed when using the dry method?

Samples that either dissolve or agglomerate in a wet medium or react with the medium are usually analyzed using the dry dispersion method.

What is obscuration?

Obscuration refers to the proportion of light scattered and absorbed by the particles in the measurement zone, which indicates the concentration of the suspension.

What is the background signal?

A background measurement has to be made prior to sample analysis. The background measurement is made up of both optical and electrical signals.

What are refractive index and absorption coefficient?

The refractive index describes the degree to which light rays are bent as they pass from one medium to another. The absorption coefficient is a measure of the light beam penetration through a material.

What are the factors that affect background?

The reasons for abnormal background signals vary. The exclusion of abnormal background signals should begin with inspecting the sample cell, then the laser source and lens, and finally, the alignment system.

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