Dear reader,
I am currently investigating the possibilities to determine the particle size of pigments in a made paint. I have already looked at my pigments size using SEM and XRD but I want to see how good the dispersion is and if the particle has agglomerated alot or not when applied in my resin mixture. my resing is polyacrylic transparent commercilised paint were I just added my pigments in. My pigment is mostly based of mica SiO2 and TiO2. Is it possible to use TEM for analysing the pigment size?
Best regards
Hampus
No - TEM does not provide a particle size distribution and is sample and interpretation dependent. You will never know the extent of agglomeration or aggregation in the system because of the small (thin) sample size. Your best route is laser diffraction. Take a look at:
Nov 11th, 2008. Dispersion and nanotechnology
http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/vu/view.asp?pi=106756756&text=M021507
January 19th 2011 PST and BDAS - an acronym approach to laser diffraction method development
https://www.brainshark.com/malvern/vu?pi=478888057&text=M021507&r3f1=
If the pigment particles are mostly mica, as you said, I hope that the agglomeration can occurred easily!
Of course that the expected pigment size range it is also very important
hey. you can use the TEM for determine the particle size. but you have to take many pictures, manualy circle the particles (as much as you can to be statistically right). from circiling them you calculate the area (program did like digital micrograph) and from area you calculate the dimension. however it is not completely accurate. but it is direct estimation from the image.
TEM is not recommended... ( U will need to count a LOT of atoms... and check the distance between the atoms too... a lot of anghstromes ,... just kidding.) Raman, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope ) is recommended.
If U want to keep the pigments quality, then SEM is better than Raman... (Raman uses a laser for mesurament , a littlebit destructive technology )
Thank you very much for all the great answers! I tried SEM and it worked very good. Atleast acceptable for a bachelor student. Thank you all I learned alot from all the answers!
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