Best basic information of Particle size analysis (PSD)

Particle size analysis is an analytical technique to measure and report the distribution of particle size of solid or liquid material.

Particle size
Particle size analysis

 


Disturbance of particle size can impact the flow property of material, can influence reaction and dissolution rate, it’s compressibility.

 From the manufacturing and development perspective, some of the most important physical properties can be measure. Such as particle size, particle shape, surface properties, mechanical properties, charge properties, microstructure.

Principle of Particle Size Analyser:

When a beam of light (a laser) is scattered by a group of particles, the angle of light scattering is inversely proportional to particle size.( i.e. the smaller the particles size the larger the angle of light scattering).


How do you analyze the particle size?


Particle size analysis can be applied for solid, liquid, suspension, aerosols.

 There are many different methods employed to measure particle size. The oldest and most popular method is Sieve Method.


1. Sieve Method:

 Seive method is the basic and most widely used a simple method to analyze the particle size. Seive method is a technique to separate particles of different sizes by using different size mesh. The sieve technique is relatively used for large particles i.e. 1 mm.


2. Dynamic Light scattering Method:

  The dynamic method used to measure the very small size particles. i.e. less than 0.5mm.


3. Image Analysis Method:

  Image analysis method is useful if anyone wants to measure morphological properties i.e. shape and size then image analysis method is used.


Must read: Data integrity

Applications of particle size analysis: 

A particle size analysis test is useful for various industries to determine particle size. Here some of the major industries are listed which is using particle size as one of the major parameters for analysis.

  1. Pharmaceutical
  2. Cement
  3. Cosmetic
  4. Aerosol
  5. Fertilizer
  6. Metal industry
  7. Food and beverage
  8. Ceramic
  9. Plastics
 
Let’s understand the role of particle size analysis industry-wise.
 

1. Pharmaceutical: 

     In the pharmaceutical industry, particle size plays a key role. Particle size defines the flow property of powder used for making drugs. The dissolution rate of drugs depends on the particle size of the drug.
 

2. Cement:

    As cement generally used in the construction industry for making houses and roads which required good strength. Here if the particle size is not proper, good results will not generate.

Particle size analysis
Particle size analysis



3. Cosmetic:

    In the world cosmetics having huge demand and to comply with that the industry particle size plays a key role. To make proper cream, powder, lotions if the particle size is not good, the expectations will not be achieved.
 

4. Aerosol:

    Nowadays because of stressful lifestyle people faces most of the health-related problems. Like as cold, asthma. To get fast recovery and easy-to-use nature peoples are preferring to use aerosol. To get proper drug spray it is important to maintain proper particle size.
 

5. Fertilizer: 

   Generally, fertilizer is available in liquid form used for farms. To spray it on crops it is required proper size. 
 

6. Metal industry:

    In the metal industry also particle size matters for good production. Lesser size gives good compaction. 
 

7. Food and beverage:

    The size of the particles in the food and beverage industry can affect the stability of the food as well as taste and texture also.
 

8. Ceramic: 

    The size and distribution of particle play in the ceramic industry. Its impacts on the functions and manufacturing of ceramic. 
 

9. Plastic: 

    Nowadays the plastic industry is high volume market and if the quality is not good it will impact more, in this industry, if the particle size is big then plastic will not a long life, therefore, it is important to maintain the proper ratio of particle size.


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