Particle size influences many properties of particulate materials and is a valuable indicator of quality and performance. More so, by measuring the particle size of a sample before and after grinding using a particle-size distribution analyzer, the extent to which the sample has been crushed can be confirmed.
There are several types of particle-size distribution analyzers.
Laser diffraction
In this method, the sample is irradiated by laser light and the particle-size distribution of the sample is determined from the intensity pattern of diffracted and scattered light. It is necessary to compare the scattering patterns of both theoretical and measured results in the process of determining the particle-size distribution. Therefore, the refractive index of the solvent and that of the sample are required for the measurement. Please provide the information on these refractive indices at the time of requesting the grinding test(master, 2018).
Particle size and shape analyzers
The principle of a particle shape and size analyzer is based on optical microscope imaging. This makes it possible to analyze non-spherical particles, such as rod-like particles and fibers. Optical microscope images are processed with suitable software to allow determinations of different parameters, such as the particles’ minimum and maximum Feret diameters and aspect ratio. Similar to laser diffraction and DLS, calculations are done automatically, making shape and size analyzers ideal for gathering data on many non-spherical particles(Measurlabs, n.d.).
Dynamic light scattering in particle size analysis
Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is another common analytical technique for determining the particle size distribution of dispersions in a solvent. The technique is based on Brownian motion: smaller particles move and diffuse faster than larger particles. The detectable size range is typically between 0.3 nm and 10 µm. Hence, DLS is suitable for smaller particles than laser diffraction, although the size range is narrower. When DLS is used to analyze solids, they must be dispersed in suitable dispersion media (aqueous or non-aqueous) before analysis.
What’s a seemingly small detail in your industry that, if not precisely controlled, can have massive downstream consequences? Let’s discuss those critical measurements!
References:
master. (2018, May 31). Method of Particle-size Evaluation of Ground Material | THINKY USA. THINKY USA | Planetary Mixer and Centrifugal Mixer. https://www.thinkymixer.com/en-us/library/report/method-of-particle-seze-evaluation-of-ground-material/
Measurlabs, H. G. (n.d.). Methods for Particle Size Distribution Analysis | Measurlabs. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://measurlabs.com/blog/particle-size-distribution-analysis-method-selection/
