Liquid Extrusion Porosimeter Vs. Mercury Porosimetry Testing: What’s the Difference?

Mercury porosimetry testing is usually executed to estimate and regulate various chemical properties under higher or ambient temperatures to simulate actual operational consnioditions.

During this porosimetry test, the pressure is actually applied through an Automated Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter to force mercury into teeny tiny pores. Consequently, the pore size distribution can be anticipated by determining the applied pressure and the intrusion volume in the test.

On the contrary,

The PMI Compression Liquid Extrusion Porosimeter has an exceptional ability to evaluate pore diameter and pore volume while sustaining the sample under compressive stress.

This hi-tech instrument is employed to classify porous materials used in various industries, including food, biotech, pharmaceutical, and the environment. That’s not it; this testing device does not produce any toxic effects on the environment or personnel.

Mercury Porosimetry Testing Method

Mercury intrusion porosimetry is an effective testing method employed to calculate pore size distribution, porosity, and pore volume to portray a wide variety of compact and powder materials. 

Mercury porosimeter employs a pressurized chamber to force mercury to intervene into the spaces in a porous substrate for Mercury Porosimetry testing.

As pressure is given, mercury starts filling the larger pores first.  As the applied pressure increases, the filling proceeds from the smaller to smallest pores.

Both the inter-particle pores sandwiched between the individual particles and the intra-particle pores within the particle can be categorized using this testing technique.

Liquid Extrusion Porosimeter Testing Method

In the liquid extrusion porosimeter testing technique, a porosimeter estimates the porosity characteristics. Precisely, pore distribution, pore-volume, and liquid permeability of a porous material sample.

The porosimeter comprises a fluid reservoir and a penetrometer. It includes a vessel that clasps any fluid evacuated from the fluid reservoir wherein a level of fluid increases in the penetrometer when added fluid enters the porosimeter.

The sample is rather wetted, with the same sort of fluid in the reservoir, before placing the sample on the porosimeter. The porosimeter also includes a membrane placed between the sample material and the tank of liquid.

The membrane basically has pores with size lesser than any of the sample pores. Permeability is calculated by measuring the flow rate while the liquid level is above the sample.

Features of Mercury Porosimetry Testing

·         Completely automatic

·         operator- friendly

·         Windows-based software handles all control, data collection, measurement, and report generation

·         Manual control

·         Software upgrades for more than 3 years

·         Limitless user-defined data points based on volume, pressure, or a combination

·         Comes with real-time graphical test display with up-to-date configuration

·         Computer equipped program depicts testing status and results during operation

·         Demonstrates both intrusion and extrusion curve

·         A comprehensive range of adequate sample sizes and types

·         Require minimal maintenance

·         Low level of mercury exposure

·         Sample transfers from low pressure to high-pressure stations not required

·         Non-destructive testing

Specifications of Mercury Porosimetry Testing

Pore Diameter Range	0.003 – 350 µm
Pressure Range vacuum	up to 60,000 psi
Pressure Transducers	low, medium, and high ranges
Sample Size	25mm diameter and 25mm long
Examination Ports	2 low- and high-pressure ports
Sample Volume	up to 10 cc or more
Pressurizing Fluid	mercury
Vacuum Pump	two-stage, direct-drive rotary oil pump
Permeability Range	1×10-4 – 5 Darcy
Pressurizing Gas	clean, dry, or compressed air any other nonflammable and noncorrosive gas
Weight	150 kg
Resolution	1 in 60,000
Accuracy	0.15% of reading
Power Requirements	230 VAC, 50Hz
Pressure Range	0 -200 psi

 

Features of Compression Liquid Extrusion Porosimeter

·         Any desired compressive stress up to 1000 psi may be chosen

·         Without disassembling the sample chamber, the pore structure of the same sample can be measured as a function of compressive stress

·         The fully automated procedure even without operator involvement

·         One instrument comprises of two: Measures Pore volume like a Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter, and liquid permeability like a permeameter

·         No toxic material is used – no health risks & no disposal related costs

Specifications of Compression Liquid Extrusion Porosimeter

Pressure Range	0 – 100 psi (others available)
Resolution	1 in 60,000
Intrusion Volume Range	0.01 cc
Sample Size	1.5″ diameter, 1″ thick (others available)
Pore Size Range	1,000 µm – 0.05 µm
Compressive Stress	up to 1,000 psi

 

To Conclude,

These unique engineering devices are used in various industries to determine porosimetry testing, making it convenient for researchers and engineers to collect accurate data.

However, these devices perform different functions and have multiple dissimilar features.