The specific need of researchers, quality assurance departments and production facilities for porous materials and powder characterization varies not only by material property, but also by application, and so Quantachrome's instruments use a diverse range of technologies to meet these differing needs. When looking at materials characterization technologies, one convenient place to start is at the property or properties of interest. Use the links to explore each property - and the associated characterization techniques - in more detail.
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Density | Pore Size | Surface Area | Chemisorption
Water Vapor Sorption | Representative Sampling
Density
One intrinsic property of a solid is density. i.e. mass per unit volume. But the volume-filling characteristic, hence the method to measure it, depends on whether the solid is undivided or pulverized! (more...)
Pore Size
The "size" of pores is described both by "diameter" and volume. Measurable pore diameters can vary from molecular dimensions (a few angstroms) to almost a millimeter. It is not surprising, therefore, that the technology required to measure the smallest pores is significantly different from that used for the largest! (more...)
Surface Area
As particle size decreases, so does the surface are per unit volume (or mass). Furthermore, the generation of porosity, especially when due to small pores, can produce surface area far in excess of that produced by particle size reduction! Surface area measurement is probably the most widely used means to characterize porous materials. (more...)
Chemisorption
Certain materials are useful because of their involvement in chemical reactions. We can make use of that behavior for characterization purposes by probing the surface with reactive gases. (more...)
Water Vapor Sorption
Most materials come into contact with water, even if its only through its air-borne vapor. For many of those materials the consequences may not be desirable, or as expected, so it makes sense to study this very specific reaction as part of a total characterization. (more...)
Representative Sampling
All analytical techniques produce results that truly only describe the small aliquot subjected to the specific test or measurement. How representative that is of the much larger, bulk material, one can only guess unless one is assured the material is 100% homogeneous. (more...)
You might also like to download our
instrument directory and selection guide for reference.
