abstract
In this work, a sub-micron quartz powder produced by high energy grinding was used to explore the information contained in the particle size distribution (PSD) curves obtained by electro-acoustic spectroscopy (EAS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results show that although the customarily volume-based PSD curve and its median value (d(50) = 135 nm) are more amenable to differences in measurement phenomena and sample preparation methods, the area and number-based representations are more sensitive to the presence of finer particles (35 and 65 nm, respectively for the number and area-based curves obtained by EAS). These values were supported by the crystallite size calculated from X-ray diffraction (d = 44 nm) and the equivalent spherical diameter calculated from specific surface area measurements (d = 43 nm). Thus, a reliable description of the particle size of a powder requires the use of complementary techniques, suggested by the envisioned application or the particular stringency of a given processing step. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
subject category
Engineering, Chemical
authors
Camargo, WF; Mantas, PQ; Segadaes, AM; Cruz, RCD
our authors
Ana Maria B C Segadães
Retired Professoracknowledgements
The general financial support received from CAPES/PROSUC (tuition fees) and the Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Economico, Ciencia e Tecnologia from the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (SDECT/RS) is gratefully acknowledged. Authors very much appreciate the assistance from the technical staff of the Ceramic Materials Institute at the University of Caxias do Sul (IMC-UCS) and from the senior microscopist Marta Ferro at the Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO).