The term porosimetry is generally used to describe measurements of porosity-related characteristics of a material such as pore size, area and volume distribution as well as density and percent porosity. These characteristics are particularly important in understanding the structure, formation and potential use of different substances.
A material’s porosity affects not only its physical properties, but also behavior in its environment. Factors such as permeability, adsorptivity, density and strength are influenced by a substance’s porosity and dictate the way in which it can be suitably used.
The AutoPore V Series mercury intrusion porosimeters (Figure 1) from Micromeritics are advanced instruments that offer speed, precision and a broad measurement range. These instruments enable users to determine sample properties such as skeletal and bulk density, pore size, area and volume distribution, median pore diameter, total pore surface area, total pore volume and percent porosity.
The mercury porosimetry technique is based upon the intrusion of mercury into a porous structure under closely monitored pressure.
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Figure 1. AutoPore V Series mercury intrusion porosimeter
The AutoPore V Series is capable of measuring a wider pore size distribution quickly and precisely when compared to other techniques. The instruments also come with improved safety features and provide new data reduction and reporting options, which offer more data regarding the fluid transport characteristics and pore geometry of a material. The AutoPore V Series delivers excellent performance and sets a new standard in operational safety.
Design Advantages
Micromeritics’ AutoPore V Series offers the following advantages:
- High-pressure, low-noise generating systems
- Enhanced safety features minimize the risk of mercury spills and therefore operator exposure
- Quick-scan mode enables a constant pressure increase approximating equilibrium and rendering faster screening
- Choice of pressure ramping methods allows users to select either a scanning mode for on-demand or high speed results, or an equilibration mode for high precision results with greater detail
- Baseline correction options (manual, automatic or differential) enable greater precision by correcting for thermal and compressibility effects induced by high pressure
- Compensation for material compression under high-pressure analysis
- Mercury temperature sensor enables automatic calculation of mercury density utilized for penetrometer calibrations
- MicroActive software enables users to interactively define custom reports, manipulate data and achieve analytical results quickly and easily
- Available with four low- and two high-pressure ports for greater sample throughput
- Available in 60,000psia or 33,000psia models
Operational Advantages
The AutoPore V Series mercury intrusion porosimeters offer a number of operational advantages. The instruments can measure pore diameters ranging from 0.003 to 1100µm while pressure can be applied in controlled increments as fine as 0.05 psi from 0.2 to 50psia, making it possible to collect comprehensive data in the macropore region.
In addition the high-resolution (sub-microliter) measurement of extrusion and intrusion volumes results in high accuracy facilitating the development of tighter sample specifications, higher-quality research data and enhanced production control.
The AutoPore V Series operates in scanning and time- or rate-of-intrusion equilibrated modes. Real-time diagnostics warn of problems before they become serious or impair analytical results. The AutoPore systems are also capable of collecting high-resolution data for mercury intrusion and extrusion volume. Also, the instruments have enhanced linear motion for high-pressure chamber closure.
Other operational safety features include;
- Triple Fail Safe System - (1) penetrometer safety cap, (2) locking cap interlock, (3) manifold pressure vent
- Mercury vapor detector
- Mercury vapor filter
- Mercury temperature sensor
- Mercury collection trays
- Mercury funnel with improved design
- Software control preventing elutriation of fine powder samples
Applications
Micromeritics’ AutoPore V Series mercury intrusion porosimeters are used in applications ranging from A to Z including, among others:
- Absorbents
- Aerospace
- Architecture
- Batteries
- Carbons
- Catalysts
- Ceramics
- Construction Materials
- Drill Cores
- Electronic Components
- Environmental Studies
- Filters
- Foodstuffs
- Forestry
- Fuel Cells
- Geoscience
- Marine Studies
- Medical and Dental Implants
- Oilfield Research
- Paper
- Pharmaceuticals
- Petrochemicals
- Textiles
- Zeolites
Conclusion
Micromeritics’ AutoPore V Series mercury intrusion porosimeters are available in two models to suit the needs of research and quality assurance laboratories. The Autopore IV 9605 series has 4 low-pressure ports and 2 high-pressure ports for analysis at up to 33,000psia. The 9620 series has 4 low-pressure ports and 2 high-pressure ports for analysis at up to 60,000psia.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Micromeritics Instrument Corporation.
For more information on this source, please visit Micromeritics Instrument Corporation.