Your need: identify the internal and surface structure of your materials
What is porosity analysis?
Porosity analysis is the characterization of the void spaces within a solid material. It quantifies open porosity (connected to the exterior) and closed porosity (isolated within the material).
Porosimetry measures pore size distribution, total pore volume, and specific surface area. These parameters directly impact mechanical strength, permeability, adsorption capacity, and thermal insulation performance.
Objectives of porosity analysis
Our solutions: carry out a porosity analysis to characterize and optimize your materials
Call on FILAB, porosimetry laboratory
For over 30 years, our laboratory has had the expertise and analytical resources necessary to meet specific porosity analysis needs.
We support industries in the precise characterization of the internal and surface structure of their materials, offering reliable, customized analyses tailored to each problem.
Our porosity analysis in detail
Porosity analysis transforms an often invisible property into a controllable parameter, thereby securing, improving, and innovating industrial processes.
- Quality control/compliance: detecting internal defects, density variations, or unexpected porous areas that could compromise performance or cause failures.
- Process optimization: adjusting sintering, compacting, firing, or coating parameters based on the measured porosity level.
- Formulation/material comparison: comparing the performance of alternative materials or batches in terms of porosity (and therefore fluid transport, permeability, capillarity, etc.).
- Predicting functional behavior: calculating permeability, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, fluid diffusion (liquid/gas), etc., based on porosity measurements.
- Predict functional behavior: calculate permeability, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, fluid diffusion (liquid/gas), etc., based on porosity measurements.
- Failure problems: identify porous areas responsible for cracking, internal corrosion, infiltration, or loss of integrity.
Our technical means for measuring porosity
At the FILAB laboratory, the main means of characterizing porosity are:
Techniques adapted to each need
The choice of technique for your porosity analysis depends on several criteria, which we evaluate with you:
Pore size range to be measured
- If you have very small pores (micropores < 2 nm, mesopores up to ~50 nm)
- If your pores are larger, in the nanometer to micrometer range or even larger
- For very small pores and/or closed porosity
Type of porosity (open vs. closed)
- Mercury porosimetry only penetrates open pores.
- The BET technique measures adsorption on pores accessible to the gas molecule.
Objectives of porosity measurements
- To obtain a pore diameter distribution (size, volume)
- To determine the true density/total porosity
- To perform rapid quality control
- To model fluid behavior
Often, for complete characterization, we recommend a combined approach: for example, BET, Hg porosimetry, and pycnometer, depending on the ranges of interest.
Materials concerned and industries
Our porosity analysis services are applicable to a wide range of materials used in industry:
Applicable standards regarding porosity
Porosity measurement according to ISO 23235
FAQ
Open porosity is that which communicates with the exterior of the material, and is therefore accessible to fluids or gases. Closed porosity is isolated within the material, not connected externally. Methods such as Hg porosimetry only measure open porosity.
This depends on the equipment. Typically, Hg porosimetry covers diameters from a few nanometers (or even ~3 nm) to several hundred micrometers, or even millimeters depending on the instrumentation.
Yes, it is often recommended to cover the entire pore size range (micropores via BET, macropores via Hg porosimetry) and cross-reference the results. The synergy of the techniques gives a more complete view.
Porosity refers to the presence of voids or cavities within a material. These pores can influence the material’s mechanical, thermal, chemical, and fluidic properties. Porosity analysis helps better understand material behavior and optimize industrial performance.
Porosity analysis is used to assess material quality, identify internal defects, and optimize industrial processes. It helps improve mechanical strength, permeability, thermal performance, and fluid diffusion while ensuring compliance with technical specifications.
Open porosity refers to pores connected to the external surface of the material, allowing fluids or gases to circulate through them. Closed porosity consists of isolated pores trapped inside the material and inaccessible from the outside. Some techniques, such as mercury porosimetry, only measure open porosity.
BET analysis is based on gas adsorption and is mainly used to measure specific surface area and characterize micropores and mesopores. Mercury porosimetry uses mercury intrusion under pressure to analyze larger pores and pore size distribution. These two techniques are complementary and provide a comprehensive characterization of porous structures.
Porosity analysis can be performed on a wide range of industrial materials, including:
- metals and alloys,
- metallic powders,
- polymers,
- composites,
- ceramics,
- glass materials,
- technical porous materials.
The choice of technique depends on several factors:
- pore size range,
- type of porosity (open or closed),
- material properties,
- objectives of the analysis.
FILAB experts select the most suitable analytical method according to your industrial needs.
Porosity analysis can help identify:
- internal cracks,
- sintering defects,
- weak mechanical areas,
- corrosion phenomena,
- infiltration issues,
- densification defects.
These analyses are especially useful for failure investigations and quality control.
It depends on the analytical technique used. BET analysis is non-destructive because it relies on gas adsorption. Mercury porosimetry may be considered invasive since it uses high pressure to force mercury into the pore network.
Yes, combining multiple analytical techniques is often recommended to obtain a complete characterization of the material. For example, BET analysis and mercury porosimetry can be combined to evaluate both micro- and macroporosity.
Porosity analysis is widely used across many industries, including:
- aerospace,
- medical devices,
- pharmaceuticals,
- nuclear,
- metallurgy,
- automotive,
- cosmetics,
- chemical industry.
Porosity measurements can be performed according to recognized international standards, including:
- ISO 15901-1,
- ISO 23235.
These standards ensure reliable and reproducible analytical results.
Porosity directly impacts several material properties, including:
- mechanical strength,
- thermal conductivity,
- permeability,
- capillary behavior,
- fluid diffusion,
- chemical resistance.
Controlling porosity is therefore essential to optimize the final performance of industrial materials.
