25 Particle Characterisation Application Example: Polymers
A polymer sample was pulverised by two different methods (ball mill and rotor mill) and analysed with the CAMSIZER M1. The median size is almost identical for both methods. Grinding in the rotor mill, however, produces particles with lower roundness values.
Application example: Synthetic diamond
Industrial diamonds are frequently included in cutting tools and polishing products. Accurate knowledge of size, distribution width and particle shape are important for assessing the effectiveness of the material. Two samples of industrial diamonds were analysed with the CAMSIZER M1. The median values are 3 µm and 20 µm, respectively (Figure 5). This shows that the CAMSIZER M1 provides reliable results down to the low micrometer range.
Figure 3. Polymer sample 1 was pulverised with a rotor mill, sample 2 with a ball mill. Both materials were analysed with the CAMSIZER M1, the median value is approximately 47 µm, with sample 1 having a wider distribution. The shape analysis shows that the sample from the rotor mill has lower values for the shape parameter ‘roundness’.
Application example: Metal powders
For modern powder metallurgical processes, e. g. selective laser sintering, raw materials with a narrow size distribution in the range of 20 - 80 µm are required. The particle shape should be as spherical as possible. With the CAMSIZER M1 unwanted particle shapes such as satellites (small metal particles fused with larger ones) are unambiguously identifi ed which helps to correctly assess the suitability of the powder (Figure 4).
Figure 5. Size distribution of industrial diamonds. Sample 1 (blue): median = 3.1 µm, sample 2 (red): median = 20.3 µm. The black curves represent the result of the laser diffraction analysis of the respective samples. This proves that the CAMSIZER M1 delivers exact size data even for very small particles. Right: CAMSIZER M1 images of industrial diamonds.
Application Example: Standard glass beads
Glass spheres with a defi ned size distribution are often used to test and qualify particle analysers. With the CAMSIZER M1, the glass samples PS313 (10 - 100 µm) and PS202 (3 - 30 µm) from Whitehouse Scientifi c were analysed (Fig. 6). Sample preparation was carried out with the dry dispersion module M-Jet. For both materials, the results are within the specifi ed tolerances of the standards.
Figure 6. Left. CAMSIZER M1 analysis of the PS313 sample, two measurements each on two different slides (red / blue). Right: CAMSIZER M1 analysis of the sample PS202. The black reference curves indicate the tolerance range of the standards. Centre: particle images of PS313 sample.
Conclusion
Figure 4. Top. CAMSIZER M1 particle list of titanium powder with a largely spherical particle shape. Satellites can be detected on some of the particles. Below: Copper powder with typical dendritic particle shape.
Static image analysis with the new CAMSIZER M1 is suitable for a variety of different applications. Particularly for very small particles, the CAMSIZER M1 impresses with its outstanding accuracy and reliable shape analysis. With the M-Jet module, homogeneous and effi cient dispersion of dry powders is easily achieved. Fully automatic measuring procedure and various evaluation options make the CAMSIZER M1 the ideal measuring device for all applications in a size range from 0.5 µm to 1500 µm.
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