Particle size analyzers

Particle size and size distribution have a direct influence on material properties, which impacts a wide range of industries and products.

Reaction rate

For solids, the surface area of the particle is critical in determining the rate of a chemical reaction. Chemical reactions are far more likely to occur in fine particles. A great example of an industry reliant on this principle is the cement industry, which must deliver the appropriate reaction rate to achieve a product with the desired strength.

Dissolution rate

By creating finer particles - and therefore increasing surface area - the physical barriers to dissolution are reduced, making the process occur much more quickly. Finer particles are more likely to dissolve faster. This is extremely important for the pharmaceutical industry as the speed of dissolution has a direct impact on bioavailability and, therefore, the effectiveness of the drug.

Packing density

The efficiency with which particles pack together is crucial to many industries. As a rule, large particles are going to pack more poorly than small particles. By decreasing the particle size, packing density is improved and void-age (unoccupied volume) is reduced. This is particularly important in the production of metals and ceramics through mold filling, as unoccupied volume can create a significantly flawed product.

Product Appearance

The principle that particles scatter light in different ways depending on their size is exploited in the manufacture of paints, inks, toners and other surface coatings. These industries must achieve desirable light scattering effects to define parameters such as hue, tint, transparency and gloss.

Sedimentation

Suspension “stability” is most easily achieved by avoidance of sedimentation (the tendency of particles in suspension to settle out of the fluid). To ensure stability, the gravitational pull exerted on particles must be balanced with the “up-thrust” of the fluid. Unstable suspensions can wreak havoc in many industries where consistency is essential to product perception.

Texture

The size of particles has a direct correlation with a customer’s perception of a product and, therefore, the reputation of a company. This is particularly true in the case of food products in which particle size can impact the enjoyment of the product. For example, coffee - where particle size affects the flavors released in the brewing process - and chocolate - where the size affects the taste and mouth feel of the final product.

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Malvern Panalytical produces world-leading instrumentation for all types of particle size analysis and characterization from sub-nanometer to millimeters in particle size.

We offer a variety of particle size analyzers to meet your application requirements covering particle size measurement for both wet and dry samples. These systems are used worldwide in all industries for both product development, production and quality control, as well as in R&D.

Our range of particle size analyzers use different measuring principles and cover a size range from 0.3 nm to >3 mm.