Particle Size - What Is It and Why Is It Important

5/20/2021 Particle Size: What is it and Why is it Important?
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Particle Size: What is it and Why is it Important?
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To put it succinctly, particle sizeEquipment (/materials-equipment-index.aspx)

is diameter or radius. However, the type of diameter or radius is critical,
and additionally, there are non-spherical particles. This article presents some ideas for people who are
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not experienced in particle sizing.
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Length vs. Mass
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For particle technologists, the only response is length. However, recently at a national biochemistry convention,
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a number of protein chemists continuously described the(/metals)
molecular weight of a globular protein, a relative
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molar mass, as the protein’s ‘size.’ The group was surprised upon realizing this, as they refer to the size of a
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globular protein using nanometers. Apart from these protein chemists, it is likely that when referring to particle
size (https://www.brookhaveninstruments.com/product-category/particle-characterization/), length in
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nanometers will be meant.
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To Be or Not to Be a Sphere
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Across every three-dimensional particle, the sphere is the most critical in particle sizing by a lot. This is not due
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to most particles being spheres, despite many (/contact.aspx)
coming near to it (monoclonal antibodies, unaggregated latex,
spherical micelles, oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, liposomes, etc.). They are even closer if
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measurements are averaged over rotationally di using particles1. Throughout the timescales of a lot of kinds of
measurements, rotationally averaged sizes are being measured and as such, a sphere frequently signi es a
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rational approximation. If extremely irregular particles are broken down because of abrasion, lengthy ones are
broken down into smaller ones and which get more globular instead of less. This is similar to wind and water
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action creating smooth, globular rocks from the rough shards of volcanic debris. It is also similar to irregular
and/or rough particles rounded o as they are combined or stirred before becoming the nal product.
Considering the 1st law of thermodynamics, a liquid body without external forces will create a sphere to lessen
its surface area for a particular volume of material. As such, liquid droplets, disregarding outside forces, form
spheres. This is the reason that cooling planets created, to 1st order, spherical objects.
The most critical reason might be that a lot of 2nd-order di erential equations that explain the physics of the
automated techniques employed for measuring particle size are exactly soluble for spheres. This results in
tting nature into what can be achieved conveniently. One positive is that it usually works particularly for the
purposes of quality control.
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A Quick Tour of Spherical Geometry

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The volume can be 4 πr3/3 or πd3/6, where two times the radius r equals the diameter d. For completion, the
surface area of a sphere can be 4 πr2 Videos
or πd2.(/materials-videos-index.aspx)
The simple factor of two that correlates radius to diameter is often the cause for a 100% error. If a requirement
for size does not register it as radius or diameter, or if (/advertise)
Advertise a result (mean size, for example) does not denote which it
is, or a graph is not labeled, then the only option may be to guess. An assertion of ability to measure up to 5
microns in radius is the same as the assertion of 10Store
Metals microns in diameter. This area should be considered as it
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The Equivalent Spherical Diameter,

Software ESD
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There are two kinds, geometric equivalent and technique equivalent.

Geometric ESD’s Books (/book-reviews-index.aspx)

When considering a static, 2D image of a particle, it is not three dimensional. As such, what appears like a circle
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may correspond to a thin disc-like particle rather (/contact.aspx)
than a sphere if shadows do not show a more structure that
lls more space. When the image was taken, as long as it was not a 3D holographic image, it could be thought
that as the particles settle, they become steady on a at surface. As such, if they did not land on their faces,
most discs would topple over if they landed on an edge.
There are a lot of variously geometrically de ned ESD’s that might be assigned to an irregular particle. A way to
ascertain the ESD of an arbitrarily shaped particle is to draw circles around the actual image until it is just simply
totally enclosed. The diameter of the enclosing circle should be assigned to that of the particle (de).
Instead, it is possible to identify a circle with an area equal to that of the measured particle area. This can be
carried out simply by counting pixels and computer programs that cause constantly growing accuracy with
smaller and smaller pixels. With the area of the drawn circle, its diameter should be assigned to that of the
particle (πd2/4). This ESD should be labeled dA. Alternatively, the image’s perimeter could be traced and
assigned to the diameter of the circle with the like perimeter (πdP).
Each of these is a geometric equivalent diameter. There are many more options based on parallel tangents
(Feret’s diameter, dF) and chords (Martin’s diameter, dM). The fact that the same particle may have numerous
kinds of geometric ESD’s should be noted, and if correctly identi ed, they should not be equal with a more
irregular particle shape. The ratio of two of these geometric ESD’s for the same particle shows something
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It becomes more di cult to describe the particle shape with just one parameter, the more irregular it becomes.
Due to this, the understanding of ‘size’ established by image analysis is more challenging than an automated
machine centered on an ESD de ned by the method. What is implied by this kind of ESD?
Technique ESDs
When considering a stack of sieve plates, theAbout
mass (/aboutus.aspx)
of all the particles that stay on a speci c plate (following
suitable shaking) whose hole size2 is dS are known to signify the collective increment by mass bigger than
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diameter dS. When considering a particle falling under gravity or moving radially outward in a centrifuge, its
velocity is calculated and then set equal to that of a sphere that would have shifted in the same way.
The consequent diameter is known as the(/materials-engineering-directory.aspx)

Directory Stokes diameter, dSt, due to the motion being described by Stokes
Law. If a rotating, tumbling particle’s di raction pattern is recorded on a detector, then the pattern is set equal
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to that of a sphere that would provide (/materials-equipment-index.aspx)
the nearest di raction pattern.
This is known as the laser or laser di Videos

raction(/materials-videos-index.aspx)
particle size and should be labeled dLD. Employing dynamic light
scattering to ascertain the translational di usion coe cient of a submicron particle should be considered. Then
the hydrodynamic diameter or radius relating to the measured di usion coe cient needs to be calculated. This
should include two subscripts: H for hydrodynamic and DLS (https://www.brookhaveninstruments.com/product-
category/particle-characterization/) for the method (dH, DLS). Double subscripts such as this are not usually seen
in practice; however, if they were, it would beMetals
increasingly apparent what was measured.
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In each of these cases and a lot more, the size of the sphere is designated such that it would provide the same
outcome as the actual particle. These are known as technique ESD’s (or ESR’s). However, what could be
observed in practice is either d or r and this causes confusion when assessing outcomes. For spheres, if
methods were equally accurate, then a subscript would not be required. However, for irregular shapes,
employing subscripts, one would acknowledge that the ‘sizes’ should not be equal. As with geometric ESD’s,
ratios of technique ESD’s generate information on shape.
There is just one de nition for a given method (disregarding specialized ow orientation methods), unlike with
image analysis. There lies the vulnerability of image evaluation: Which ones to select to portray the particle size?
No universally applicable, simple standards to refer to exist.
The Promise and Heart Break of Image Analysis

For extremely long rods, the aspect ratio, AR, is known as the length divided by the diameter, L/d, and often the
reciprocal is known as the AR. For further irregular particles, the most lengthy dimension separated by the
shortest dimension is the aspect ratio, or its reciprocal is. Like the L and d for every particle in a distribution, the
aspect ratio may be determined. A particle’s performance may be correlated with L, d, or possibly with AR. There
are just three options here.
But imagine a more highly irregular particle, smooth or jagged. There are a lot of potential statistical descriptors
of shape and size. Most modern software provides many options that can be employed, which can cause a 
problem.
It is important to ascertain which size parameter or subset of size parameters will correlate with particle
performance? In some disciplines, outcomes are known; however, in many, they are not. Image analysis leads to
large amounts of data, but it does not always lead to useful information.
There are further issues with image analysis, which are addressed in more detail in another s ‘A Guide to
Choosing a Particle Sizer.’ About (/aboutus.aspx)
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Three Kinds of Radii
The rst is the most well-known, which is the hard sphere, geometric radius, Rs. This radius is especially easily
acquired employing image analysis.
Secondly, as previously described,Equipment

in dynamic light scattering (DLS), the hydrodynamic radius, Rh is obtained.
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This radius is the one that is obtained from contrasting a sphere with the translational di usion coe cient,
which is measured. This is a solid, hard-core particle whose surface is covered with long-chain polymers or
surfactants that stick far out into the liquid.
Often known as ‘hairy’ particles, their radii are substantially bigger than that of their cores. Finally, there is the
radius of gyration, Rg, found from static light scattering (SLS). It is worth noting that the Rg obtained from SLS
measurements is independent of shape assumptions; however, any Rh value assumes a sphere.
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Credit: Brookhaven 
Instrument Corporation
Summary
After initially verifying that particle size (https://www.brookhaveninstruments.com/product-category/particle-
characterization/) is actually a length and not the mass of a protein, ascertain if the outcomes are pertaining to a
single statistical parameter or are many parameters included utilizing image analysis. If it is a single statistical
parameter, is it a true diameter or an ESD established geometrically (image analysis) or by contrast against what
a sphere would produce employing an automated method (laser di raction, centrifugation, sieving, zone
counters, etc.). And, nally, it should be determined whether it is a radius or a diameter (a true one or ESD/ESR)
being discussed. Answering these questions will establish an enhanced position to compare numerical
outcomes more e ciently.
Footnotes

1
The rotational di usion coe cient, DR, for a sphere of radius 1 micron in the water at 25 ºC is 0.18 s-1 and it
varies inversely with the cube of the radius. Thus, a 100 nm radius particle is di using (rotating) 180 times per
second. If the measurement time is a second or longer, the results are rotationally averaged.
2
Sieve sizes are a complete topic in themselves. Often, they are not circular holes. Abraded holes, as well as
particles broken by abrasion, may be problems. Sifting
About long enough to ensure all smaller particles made it
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through is an issue. Finally, for highly irregular shapes, if the particle can be oriented by sifting, then it is the 
smaller dimension that is determined. News
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of the distribution of long rods of varying lengths and varying, but
much smaller, diameters. Although unlikely, you would be determining the size distribution of the rod diameters
and learn nothing about the distribution of rod lengths if you could sift them such that they all stood on end
when passing through the sieves’ holes.
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Adapted from sources originally authored by(/materials-videos-index.aspx)
Bruce Weiner.
(https://www.brookhaveninstruments.com)

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This information has been sourced, Journals
reviewed(/materials-journals-index.aspx)
and adapted from materials provided by Brookhaven Instrument
Corporation.
For more information on this source, please visit Brookhaven Instrument Corporation.
(https://www.brookhaveninstruments.com)
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Particle Size - What Is It and Why Is It Important

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5/20/2021 Particle Size: What is it and Why is it Important?

To put it succinctly, particle sizeEquipment (/materials-equipment-index.aspx)

A Quick Tour of Spherical Geometry

The Equivalent Spherical Diameter,

There are two kinds, geometric equivalent and technique equivalent.

Geometric ESD’s Books (/book-reviews-index.aspx)

The consequent diameter is known as the(/materials-engineering-directory.aspx)

This is known as the laser or laser di Videos

The Promise and Heart Break of Image Analysis

Secondly, as previously described,Equipment

Market Reports (/reports-and-docs-index.aspx)

Become a Member (/azopro

Acknowledgments Equipment (/materials-equipment-index.aspx)

Metals Store (/metals)

Read in: English

Become a Member (/azopro le/)  Search... 

Leave your feedback

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Optimizing Battery Electrolyte Performance and Quality with Benchtop NMR

Metals Store (/metals) (/article.aspx?ArticleID=20274)

Market Reports (/reports-and-docs-index.aspx)

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Semiconductor Nodes: Raman Based Metrology (/article.aspx?ArticleID=20414)

From Granutools (/suppliers.aspx?SupplierID=14079) 17 May 2021

Removing the Complex Process for Fire Assay Analysis (/article.aspx?ArticleID=20418)

Newsletters you may be interested in About (/aboutus.aspx)

Other Sites from AZoNetworkJournals (/materials-journals-index.aspx)

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