Physical Characterisation of Ceramics and Filter Media The   porosity   of   ceramics   and   filter   media   is   often   inextricably   linked   to   their   performance   in   a   wide   range   of   applications.   When   selecting, assessing   or   producing   ceramics   and   filter   media   it   is   necessary   to   consider   the   required   porous   characteristics   with   respect   to   the   intended application.   Changes   in   porosity   also   need   to   be   considered   during   product   use,   especially   with   regard   to   capacity   thresholds,   pore   blocking   or fouling   and   product   regeneration.   The   porous   nature   of   raw   material   powders,   together   with   manufacturing   conditions,   often   dictate   the   ultimate pore size and volume of a finished product, and therefore its efficacy.

Key Applications Determination of pore size and volume Determination of absolute porosity Selection and control of raw material constituents Formulation and fabrication process control Identification of optimum fabrication conditions Selection of materials for specific applications Monitoring of products for efficacy during use Investigation product failure and performance issues Investigating product regeneration Application to filtration of gaseous environments Application to fluid environments and water treatment

Ceramics   and   filter   media   are   applied   to   a   very   broad   range   of   applications   and   are   intended   for   exposure   to   a   diverse   range   of   operating conditions   and   interacting   species,   from   gaseous   molecules   to   fluid   and   water   contaminants.   Requirements   of   pore   size,   pore   volume   and   specific surface   area   therefore   cover   a   wide   range   are   usually   very   demanding   with   respect   to   the   absolute   values.   At   MCA   Services   we   offer   a   complete suite   of   analytical   techniques   which   allows   for   the   complete   characterisation   of   porosity   throughout   the   ranges   of   ultra-micropores   (<   1nm diameter)   through   to   macro-pores   (up   to   650   µm).   When   the   ceramic   or   filter   media   is   doped   with   a   chemically   active   metallic   component, chemisorption   options   become   particularly   useful.   Chemisorption   provides   the   means   of   analysing   the   active   component   alone   for   its   surface   area, crystallite size and, importantly, availability via its dispersion.

Key Applications Gas Adsorption Ultra-micropore analysis (< 1.0 nm) Micropore analysis (< 2.0 nm) Mesopore analysis (2 – 50 nm) Pore volume measurement Pore size distribution measurement Specific surface area (BET) measurement Specific probe gases available Mercury Porosimetry Mercury intrusion and extrusion options Mesopore & Macropore analysis (3.5 nm – 650 µm) Pore volume measurement Pore size distribution measurement Absolute porosity, bulk density and skeletal density Permeability and tortuosity measurement Cavity to throat size measurement Helium Pycnometry Absolute density measurement Chemisorption and Temperature Programmed Analysis Application to active metal doped media Active component dispersion and surface area Reduction, oxidation and desorption temperature profiles

MCA   Services   offers   a   complete   suite   of   techniques   for   the   characterisation   of   material   porosity   throughout   the   range   of   micropores,   through mesopores   and   macropores.   We   also   have   extensive   experience   and   expertise   to   actively   assist   with   the   interpretation   of   results,   relating   porous characteristics   to   the   sample   material   and   its   ultimate   application   in   a   battery   system.   Combined   with   state-of-the-art   instrumentation   and software, offering flexible and extensive reporting options, we help to maximise the amount of high quality data describing sample materials.