| Abstract Scope |
Gas adsorption methods for the analysis of surface area is a well-established technique that is used to characterize surface properties of materials in powder, aggregate or shaped forms. The method is also extended via gas desorption to characterize the porosity of porous materials. However, for materials with low or no porosity, gas adsorption offers a unique way to provide three-dimensional morphological information. The method has many advantages over conventional morphology techniques, many of which rely on indirect measurements, limited sample sizes and/or two-dimensional representation of particles. Similarly, rheological techniques are common across many industries to quantify the fluidic behavior of materials. Conventional methods for characterizing powder flow often provide hit-or-miss results, with one method or parameter being useful for one material and useless for another. In contrast to other techniques, avalanche/drum rheometers examine powder behavior under dynamic conditions, more closely resembling the state of powders during various manufacturing processes. |