SEDL / STP / STP234-EB / STP39298S

Light Scattering Instrumentation for Particle Size Distribution Measurements

O'Konski, CT
University of California, Berkeley,

Bitron, MD
University of California, Berkeley,
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovoth,

Higuchi, WI
University of California, Berkeley,
California Research Corp., Richmond, Calif.

Pages: 27    Published: Jan 1959

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Abstract

An improved instrument is described for the characterization of particles suspended in gases by means of light scattering. It consists of (1) a sensitive right-angle optical system with a photomultiplier detector, (2) a coaxial flow system which facilitates variation of the particle concentration range, (3) a photometer which continuously records the average light scattering signal, and (4) a pulse analyzer for size discrimination of individual particles. The particle analyzer was calibrated with uniform polystyrene spheres from a 0.33 to 1.17 μ in diameter, employing air as a scattering standard. The scattering intensity was found to be approximately proportional to the square of the diameter. Resolving power was determined as a function of particle size, and the instrument was critically evaluated. A brief review of particle detectors is given. A versatile pulse height selector system is described. Some variations of the instrument are proposed.