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Pore Size (PS) is typically described with a single value, usually a diameter. This convention is not preferred because it only provides a partial description of the material’s pore size for reasons to be further described in this section. Nonetheless, the unit of measure typically associated with pore size values is micrometers (more commonly referred to as microns), whereby 1 micron equals 1 X 10E-6 meters (3.93 X 10E-5 inches). For reference, a human hair is approximately 25 microns in diameter.
The measurement techniques used by the analytical instruments (primarily mercury intrusion and capillary flow) report pore size information as a distribution of data points. For this reason, Pore Size information is best described graphically, rather than with a single number. An alternative method of describing the distribution curve is to use a collection of values that better describe the distribution curve in more detail, i.e., upper limit, lower limit, mean, standard distribution, etc.
Mercury intrusion and capillary flow porosity measurements are calculated Pore Size distributions. The reported data represent diameters of idealized circular disks having cross sectional areas equal to those measured by the porosity instrument. When graphed, Pore Size distribution curves reflect the diameters of idealized pores taken from an infinite number of cross sections throughout the sample. While these distributions can be described by an average diameter value, it will hardly reveal any information concerning the shape of the distribution curve. For this reason, the distribution curves generated by the mercury intrusion and capillary flow porosity instruments should be considered in their entirety and not simplified to a single value. Also, note the various pore size distributions that can be created from different material geometries.
The technical information presented is intended as reference information only and in no way should be regarded as a limit or a constraint to our development capability.The material conditioning processes utilized by Porex to ready a polymer for use in the manufacturing process is considered proprietary. Therefore, Porex does not sell raw material for use in any external operation.
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