OCCHIO ZEPHYR ESR HEAVY DUTY PARTICLE CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEM
MEDIUM TO LARGE SAMPLES FOR GRANULAR AND BULK MATERIALS
Occhio particle size and shape analyzers, are the collaboration of many years of focused research in the fields of optics, lighting, and digital imaging.
Common methods of particle size distribution analysis include laser diffraction, and sieve analysis, both of which are based on the assumption that the sample is comprised of spherical particles.
While these methods of gathering size distribution information generally provide usable results, they lack in accuracy, and application when compared with digital imaging technology, especially when particles are not round.
Fig 1.1 A monochromatic, collimated back-light acts like a caliper.
OCCHIO ZEPHYR ESR GRANULAR MORPHOMETER
SAMPLE TYPE: FREE FLOWING GRANULARSAND BULK MATERIALS THAT DISPERSE NATURALLY WITH GRAVITY
BY USING A PARAMETER CALLED MAXIMUM INSCRIBED DISC, NEAR PERFECT SIEVE CORRELATION IS NOW POSSIBLE, SINCE THIS EFFECTIVELY MEASURES THE WIDEST PART OF A PARTICLE, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY DETERMINES THE SIEVE APERTURE SIZE THE PARTICLE WOULD OR WOULD NOT FALL THROUGH. BECAUSE WE CANNOT TELL WHETHER A PARTICLE FALLS THROUGH A SIEVE APERTURE SQUARELY OR ON ITS' DIAGONAL, THERE WILL BE SOME VARIANCE.
FOR BETTER CORRELATION TO A PARTICLES ACTUAL MASS, A PARAMETER CALLED EQUIVALENT DISC DIAMETER IS EMPLOYED. THIS BASICALLY EQUATES TO COUNTING PIXELS, AND CORRELATES MORE CLOSELY TO LASER DIFFRACTION RESULTS.
INSCRIBED CIRCLES ARE USEFUL IN DETERMINING OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS, SUCH AS ABRASIVE PROPERTIES OF PARTICLES
THIS ACTUAL IMAGE OF AN ESPRESSO COFFEE GRIND, HELPS SHOW
HOW SIEVING MAY PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO SIZE.
WHAT SIZE SQUARE APERTURE WOULD LIKELY CAPTURE THE PARTICLE.? EVEN MORE SO, WOULD IT FALL THROUGH ON THE PERPENDICULAR OR THE HORIZONTAL?
BULK MATERIALS LIKE AGGREGATES, ABRASIVES, AND WOOD CHIPS CAN BE ANALYZED FOR SIZE,SHAPE, AND EVEN ABRASIVE QUALITIES
Using a special proprietary light source, Occhio Particle Analyzers, are able to provide clear resolution, and definition to particles as small as 200 nanometers.
WHAT ABOUT SIEVE CORRELATION WITH NON SPHERICAL PARTICLES?
ANALYZING THE PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES OF ABRASIVES, AND EXAMINING LENGTH AND WIDTH OF FIBERS, OR STRINGY PRODUCTS LIKE TOBACCO, AND SHREDDED CHEESE
PRIOR TO DIGITAL IMAGING THERE WAS NO GOOD WAY TO PERFORM QUALITY CONTROL TESTS ON LONG, STRINGY PARTICLES. SIEVE ANALYSIS IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS IN DETERMINING THE SIZE OF THESE CURVEY RUBBER SHREDS. OCCHIO IS ABLE TO EVEN MEASURE LENGTH OF CURVED PARTICLES.
REPLACE SIEVE ANALYSIS- Unlike laser diffraction, digital imaging devices can actually correlate with, and replace sieve analysis.
STUDY PRODUCT FLOW PROPERTIES-Shape parameters like circularity, length, and width, provide valuable information in flow dynamics.
MEASURE PARTICLE ABRASIVE QUALITIES-The ESR can measure the shape of asperities on a particle, which correlate to abrasion performance.
VALIDATE / SUPPLEMENT LASER DIFFRACTION RESULTS
FINE AGGREGATE CHARACTERIZATION-Occhios' proprietary algorithm for measuring asperities, correlates with manual angularity measurements
Standard test method for flat particles, elongated particles,
or flat and elongated particles in coarse aggregate-
Correlates with OCCHIO WIDTH & LENGTH Size parameters. For smaller particles, use Ellipsoid Width and length parameters.
Percentage of fracture in coarse aggregate-
Correlates with Occhio BLUNTNESS Shape Parameter
Sieve Analysis-
Correlates with Occhio INNER DIAMETER Size parameter
