The AccuPyc II 1345 Series Pycnometers are fast, fully automatic pycnometers that provide high-speed, high-precision volume measurements and true density calculations on a wide variety of powders, solids, and slurries. After analyses are started with a few keystrokes, data are collected, calculations are performed, and results displayed. A minimal amount of operator attention is required.

Principle of Operation

This technique uses the gas displacement method to measure volume accurately. Inert gases, such as helium or nitrogen, are used as the displacement medium. The sample is sealed in the instrument compartment of known volume,the appropriate inert gas is admitted, and then expanded into another precision internal volume.

Total Density

On an elementary level, the volume of a solid material can be calculated by measuring its length, width, and thickness. However, many materials have within their structure surface irregularities, small fractures, fissures, and pores.

The GeoPyc automatically determines the volume and density of a solid object by displacement of Dry Flo, a solid medium. The medium is a narrow distribution of small, rigid spheres that have a high degree of flow ability and achieve close packing around the object under investigation. The particles are sufficiently small that during consolidation they conform closely to the surface of the object, yet do not invade pore space.

Repeatability and reproducibility are achieved by a controlled method of compaction. The sample cell in which the dry medium is placed is a precision cylinder. A plunger compresses the powder as the cell vibrates; the force of compression is selectable and, therefore repeatable from test to test. A preliminary compaction with only the displacement medium in the cell establishes a zero-volume baseline.

Reporting Functions

The GeoPyc has multiple operational modes that are accessed through the instruments smart touch screen. Operating modes including full blank, computed blank, and reference solid calibration with variance, which allows you to optimize speed and accuracy for your specific application.

Total

On an elementary level, the volume of a solid material can be calculated by measuring its length, width, and thickness. However, many materials have within their structure surface irregularities, small fractures, fissures, and pores.

Some of these voids or pores are open to the surface or closed within the structure of the solid material. Therefore, differences in the material volume depend on the measurement technique, measurement method, and the conditions under which the measurements were performed.

Operational Features

The GeoPyc is operated from an intelligent touch screen. Data acquisition and reporting are fully automated for convenient incorporation in LIMS or other data concentrating systems.

T.A.P Density Option

The GeoPyc T.A.P. density option obtains precise results comparable to conventional tap density analyzers, only it does it faster, quieter, and with a higher degree of reproducibility.

When equipped with the T.A.P. Density option, the GeoPyc measures the packing volume and calculates the bulk density of granular and powdered samples, including pharmaceutical and electrochemical materials, under a wide range of compaction conditions.

GeoPyc Envelope Density Analyzer

AccuPyc/GeoPyc Porosity Bundle Bundle

Operation

Prior to a test, the mass and density (skeletal or theoretical) of the sample material is entered. The test involves compressing the sample in an increasing pressure fashion to an applied pressure up to 230 MPa (33 kpsi). During compaction, the change in volume is monitored as a function of geometric mean pressure, thus recording the compacting behavior of the material to be characterized independent of mass and geometry. The difference between the initial apparent volume and the apparent volume as a function of pressure expresses the reduction in void volume as a result of compression. The difference between each apparent volume and the skeletal volume is the void volume, for that pressure, usually expressed as the geometric average of the applied and transmitted pressures.

• Meets all requirements of ASTM D7854-14 test method, with the use of two independent load cells
• Fully automated instrument control
• USB connection to PC
• Windows 7 operating environment
• Safety features prevent operation until safety barrier is in place
• Variable sample size
• User-replaceable piston tip
• Compression scan results in less than 5 minutes
• Automated corrections to data
• Exceptional precision
• Hydraulic fluid not needed
• Ejects compressed sample for further testing
• Free of hazardous materials and waste

Pressure Scan Modes:

Constant Pressure Scan offers fast measurement of compression data across a range of selectable scan rates to pressures up to 230 MPa. (33,000 psi)

Data Inputs:

• Mass
• Bulk Density
• Specific Density
• Specific Apparent Volume

User Model Inputs:

Enables user to calculate parameters, such as alternate COAN structure and in-rubber properties from void volume curves based on your own experimentation

Data Outputs:

• Time
• Force
• Piston Height
• Temperature

Calculations Include:

• Applied, transmitted, and geometric mean pressure and force.
• Void Volume
• Apparent Density
• Apparent Volume (VA)
• Rate of porosity change as a function of pressure
• Graphical and Tabular Reports
• Numerous compression models such those of Bauer, Wu, Kawakita, Cooper and Eaton, and Heckel

AutoPore V – Features

Optional Advantages:

• Ability to measure pore diameters from 0.003 to 1100 µm*
• Controlled pressure can increase in increments as fine as 0.05 psi from 0.2 to 50 psia. This allows detailed data to be collected in the macropore region
• High-resolution (sub-microliter) measurement of intrusion/extrusion volumes produces extraordinary precision allowing the Development of tighter sample specifications, improved production processes, and high-quality research data
• Operates in scanning and time- or rate-of-intrusion equilibrated modes
• Real-time diagnostics provide knowledge of an issue before it becomes critical or impairs your analytical results
• Collects extremely high-resolution data; better than 0.1 µL for mercury intrusion and extrusion volume
• Improved linear motion for high-pressure chamber closure

Autopore V – Models

AutoPore V – Accessories

Typical Applications

Pharmaceuticals:

Porosity and surface area play major roles in the purification, processing, blending, tableting, and packaging of pharmaceutical products as well as a drug’s useful shelf life, its dissolution rate, and bio-availability.

Ceramics:

Pore area and porosity affect the curing and bonding of greenware and influence strength, texture, appearance, and density of finished goods

Adsorbents:

Knowledge of pore area, total pore volume, and pore size distribution is important for quality control of industrial adsorbents and in the development of separation processes. Porosity and surface area characteristics determine the selectivity of an adsorbent

Catalyst:

The active surface area and pore structure of catalysts influence production rates. Limiting the pore size allows only molecules of desired sizes to enter and exit, creating a selective catalyst that will produce primarily the desired product.

Aerospace:

Surface area and porosity of heat shields and insulating materials affect weight and function

Fuel Cells:

Fuel cell electrodes require controlled porosity with high surface area to produce adequate power density

Geoscience:

Porosity is important in groundwater hydrology and petroleum exploration because it relates to the quantity of fluid that a structure can contain as well as how much effort will be required to extract it

Filtration:

Pore size, pore volume, pore shape, and pore tortuosity are of interest to filter manufacturers. Often, pore shape has a more direct effect upon filtration than pore size because it strongly correlates with filtration performance and fouling.

Construction Materials:

Diffusion, permeability, and capillary flow play important roles in the degradation processes in concrete, cement, and other construction materials.

Paper:

The porosity of print media coating is important in offset printing where it affects blistering, ink receptivity, and ink holdout

MicroActive Software for AutoPore V

Intelligent, Intuitive, Interactive:

MicroActive software greatly improves the functionality, convenience, diagnostics, and data interpretation that establish the new standard for high-performance results in mercury porosimetry.

Method Wizard:

Build a method through an interactive step-by-step script. Eases method creation and new user introduction to the operation of the AutoPore V.

Mercury Density Calculation:

Unlike competitive systems that use mercury density at ambient temperature only, the AutoPore V automatically measures the actual mercury temperature for accurate density calculations under operation conditions.

User-Defined Reports and Report Options:

You can quickly create custom advanced reports to meet your specific needs using Python scripting. New report options permit automatic report conversion to PDF or spreadsheet formats.

Post-Analysis Parameter Change:

Allows analysis parameters (stem volume, maximum head pressure, pen constant) to be changed or corrected post analysis, eliminating re-running samples due to error.

Enhanced Penetrometer Calibration:

Simplifies penetrometer calibration through automated calculations either volumetrically or gravimetrically.

Diagnostic Dashboard:

Real-time monitoring of critical system components for preventative maintenance and trouble shooting.

Overlay Multiple Runs and Gas Adsorption Data:

MicroActive for AutoPore V provides the ability to overlay up to 20 runs. Included is the option to import pore size distributions from gas adsorption isotherms to provide analysis data in the micro to macropore range in a single report.

Intelligent Data Reporting:

Warnings are supplied automatically when suspect data are collected.

Variety of Available Plots:

Pore volume, pore area, and pore size plots are available as well as the ability to calculate total intrusion volume, total pore (surface) area, median pore diameters, average pore diameters, bulk or envelope density, and apparent (skeletal) density.

Reverberi Method Data Reduction:

Receive information on the distribution of pore shape. The method yields a three-dimensional array of cavity size and throat size vs. volume.

Available Information, Reports and Plots:

• Summary Report
• Cumulative Volume versus Pore size or Pressure
• Incremental Volume versus Pore size or Pressure
• Differential Volume versus Pore size
• Cumulative Area versus Pore size
• Log Differential Volume versus Pore size
• Differential Reference % Volume versus Pore sizeOut of Specification % Volume versus Pressure
• Difference from Reference % Volume
• Differential and Log Differential intrusion
• Material Compressibility
• Density versus Pressure
• Cavity to Throat Size Ratio
• Fractal Dimension
• Reverberi Method for Pore Throat and Pore Cavity
• Pore Network Tortuosity and Material Permeability
• Bulk, Envelope and Skeletal Density
• Mayer-Stowe Particle Size Distribution