Preparation and characterisation of two polydisperse, non-spherical materials as certified reference materials for particle size distribution by static image analysis and laser diffraction

Two polydisperse, non-spherical certified reference materials consisting of corundum particles with sizes between 1 m and 8 m and 15 m and 80 m were prepared. Homogeneity was assessed using a dedicated study, as well as data from the characterization exercise and was found sufficient. The materials were characterized for selected percentiles of their particle size distribution in interlaboratory studies for the number-weighted equivalent circular diameter by static image analysis and the volume-weighted equivalent spherical diameter by laser diffraction. Relative expanded assigned uncertainties ranged from 1.1 % to 8.9 % for laser diffraction, confirming that, for the given materials, instruments of different manufacturers do not provide different results. Relative expanded assigned uncertainties for image analysis were significantly larger than for laser diffraction and ranged from 8 % to 23 %. These uncertainties are considerably larger than the fundamental sampling error and indicate that unaccounted effects may be attributable to sample preparation and non-sphericity of particles may have a large effect on the reliability of image analysis.

LINSINGER Thomas;  GERGANOVA Tsvetelina Ivanova;  KESTENS Vikram;  CHAROUD-GOT Jean; 

2019-06-20

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC113077

0032-5910 (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC113077,   

10.1016/j.powtec.2018.11.073 (online),