Porosity analysis by mercury porosimetry (poro-Hg)
Mercury porosimetry is a reference technique used to characterise the porosity of materials. Based on the intrusion of mercury under pressure into the pores, it makes it possible to determine their size distribution as well as the accessible pore volume.
Why perform porosity analysis by Hg porosimetry ?
First of all, the analysis by mercury porosimetry (Hg porosimetry) allows the characterization of the surface porosity of a material according to its application. Thus, the solid material is immersed in mercury at different pressure levels.
This analysis gives several information including :
- the volume and size distribution of the pores,
- the distribution of the size of the particles,
- the bulk density
- and finally, the specific surface of the solids.
The quality and behavior of porous materials are influenced by this surface porosity. This is why, with the support and the accompaniment of a laboratory, you can study the surface porosity of your materials. Thus, as industrialists, you will gain in efficiency and quality in the manufacture of your materials.
Surface porosity analysis by Hg porosimetry: a specific FILAB laboratory analysis
For more than 30 years, FILAB laboratory has had the experience and specific analytical equipment to meet the need for porosity analysis by Hg porosimetry on all types of materials. Thanks to a tailor-made support, FILAB laboratory analyzes your industrial problems related to mercury porosity analysis (Hg porosimetry analysis) and advises you until the interpretation of the results.
Materials analysed by mercury porosimetry at FILAB laboratory
On which materials can FILAB perform porosity analysis by mercury porosimetry, both in the core and on the surface of the material?
Measuring porosity using mercury porosimetry
Mercury porosimetry (Hg) is a reference method for measuring open porosity across numerous industrial sectors.
- It is particularly suitable for ceramics and refractory materials, metals and metal powders, composites, and technical polymers used in filtration or membranes.
- It is also widely applied in the energy field (electrodes, catalysts, batteries) and in biomaterials — notably for controlling coatings such as HAP on implants, in accordance with ASTM F1854.
- Thanks to its wide measurement range, this technique allows the evaluation of microstructure, compactness, and performance of materials, while meeting both quality control and R&D requirements.
Other techniques to measure the porosity of your materials
BET
Tomographie X
Additional services
This study can be completed by other techniques according to your context:
Through our three levels of services – analysis, expertise and R&D support – FILAB assists companies of all sectors and sizes in solving their industrial problems, by providing its clients with the know-how and experience of its team.
FAQ
materials. It enables precise determination of the porous properties of a material or surface, and also measures pore size distribution.
The use of mercury as the test fluid ensures high accuracy of results. Thanks to this method, analysts can understand the internal structure of porous materials, enabling a better understanding of their characteristics. The analysis involves measuring the absorption of liquid mercury by a porous material at a variable pressure.
HG porosimetry is particularly useful for studying materials such as metal foams, ceramics and building materials.
Porosity is an important property in many applications, from the oil industry to construction. Porosity is a unitless physical parameter that varies between 0 and 1. The result is the volume of pores out of the total volume.
But how is this characteristic actually measured? The most common method is to use porosity tests, which usually involve using a liquid or gas to measure the amount of void or free space within a given material. These tests can be carried out at different scales, from microscopic to macroscopic, depending on the needs of the application in question. Of course, measuring porosity accurately can be a complex process, which is why calling in a laboratory is worthwhile.
Hg porosimetry is a popular characterization technique in the chemistry industry. It enables us to understand the physical and chemical properties of a material. Porosity is a key parameter in chemistry, as it can influence numerous chemical processes such as catalysis, adsorption and diffusion.
The porosity of a material can be measured in a laboratory using mercury porosimetry analysis.
The porosity of a plastic can be measured using several techniques, depending on the objectives of your analysis and the level of precision required. Below are some commonly used methods to measure the porosity of a plastic:
- Mercury porosimetry is a widely used laboratory technique for measuring the porosity of a plastic sample. This method works by measuring the amount of mercury that a sample can absorb, allowing the determination of the pore size distribution and other porosity characteristics.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is used to observe the pores of the sample. However, this method generally does not provide quantitative information about porosity.
- By using specific gases, it is possible to determine the porosity and pore distribution — for example, the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method, which measures the specific surface area of a porous material.
The choice of method will depend on your specific needs in terms of resolution, precision, and porosity characterization. FILAB is equipped with these three techniques, Contact the FILAB laboratory to choose the most appropriate technique and obtain reliable results.
Porosity analysis is essential to ensure the quality, durability, performance, and safety of materials in use. It is also fundamental in the design, manufacturing, and selection of materials across many industries :
- Material quality
- Durability
- Performance
- Material selection
A porous surface is a surface that contains microscopic cavities or gaps into which gases or liquids can penetrate.
Surface porosity is an essential characteristic of materials such as ceramics, polymers, porous metals, or composites.
It can be quantified in a laboratory using mercury porosimetry or other techniques such as BET or Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
There are generally three types of porosity:
- Open porosity: the pores are connected to the outside of the material, which affects its permeability.
- Closed porosity: the pores are enclosed within the material, without any connection to the outside.
- Total porosity: a combination of both open and closed porosity.
Mercury porosimetry provides access to open porosity, while other complementary methods can be used to evaluate total or closed porosity.
First of all, mercury porosimetry (Hg porosimetry) allows the characterization of the surface porosity of a material according to its application. Thus, the solid material is immersed in mercury at different pressure levels.
As an industrial company, there are several situations in which you might consider performing mercury porosimetry analysis in a laboratory. Here are some of the most common applications:
- Material characterization: mercury porosimetry analysis is used to characterize the surface porosity of materials such as ceramics, composites, polymer materials, porous metals, and more.
- Quality control: mercury porosimetry can be used to assess the quality of finished products by measuring surface porosity. This makes it possible to detect potential material defects that could affect performance or durability.
- Regulatory compliance: in certain industries, porosity analysis may be required to comply with specific standards and regulations.
The accuracy depends on the quality of the instrument, the sample preparation, and the testing protocol. When these parameters are well controlled, uncertainties on the order of a few percent (in pore volume) are typical.
No. Materials that chemically react with mercury, that are very fragile or cracked, or whose structure could be damaged by high pressure are not suitable for mercury porosimetry. In such cases, BET or other techniques should be preferred.
