High-Pressure Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter (up to 400 MPa)

What is the High-Pressure Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter (up to 400 MPa)?

A mercury porosimeter combining a low-pressure station and a high-pressure intensifier to cover pore throat sizes from about 3.6 nm to 400 µm. It is the right choice for ceramics, catalyst pellets, cements and rocks where full macropore and mesopore distributions are required.

Overview

This variant pairs a low-pressure port, typically 0 to 0.2 MPa, used for filling the penetrometer and intruding coarse pores, with a high-pressure chamber in which hydraulic fluid pressurizes mercury up to 400 MPa. Intrusion volume is measured by the change in capacitance between the mercury column in the penetrometer stem and the metal sheath, with resolution of about 0.1 µL. Data reduction applies the Washburn equation with adjustable contact angle and surface tension, corrects for blank compression, and reports total intrusion volume, median pore diameter, bulk density, apparent skeletal density and porosity. Hysteresis and entrapment after extrusion give information on connectivity. Automatic pressure stepping with equilibration times of 5 to 30 seconds makes a full analysis last 1 to 3 hours.

How does it work?

Mercury porosimetry exploits the fact that mercury does not wet most solids, so it enters pores only under pressure. The Washburn equation relates the applied pressure to the pore throat diameter, D = −4γcosθ/P, using a surface tension of 485 mN/m and a contact angle of about 130°. Pressure is increased stepwise from vacuum to 400 MPa while the intruded volume is recorded by a capacitance dilatometer, and extrusion on depressurization shows pore connectivity. Capillary flow porometry instead wets the sample with a low surface tension liquid and records the gas pressure needed to blow liquid from pores, giving through-pore size. Gas permeability systems measure flow through a sample at a known pressure difference, and helium pycnometers determine skeletal volume.

What are the key features?

• Two low-pressure ports and two high-pressure autoclaves for throughput
• Capacitance-based intrusion volume sensor with 0.1 µL resolution
• Stepwise pressure control with programmable equilibration time
• Automatic blank correction for mercury and penetrometer compressibility
• Solid, powder and large-bulk penetrometers in various stem volumes
• Mercury vapor-tight design with integrated waste collection

What are the technical specifications?

A typical high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimeter (up to 400 mpa) configuration offers pressure range of 0.003–400 MPa, pore diameter range of 3.6 nm–400 µm, intrusion volume resolution of 0.1 µL, pressure accuracy of ±0.5% of reading, low-pressure ports of 2 and high-pressure ports of 1–2. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The High-Pressure Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter (up to 400 MPa) is used in ceramic and refractory pore structure, catalyst and adsorbent pellets, cement, mortar and concrete porosity and rock core analysis. Across the wider Porosimeters class, laboratories also deploy it for ceramic and refractory pore analysis, filter and membrane pore size testing and catalyst pellet macropore distribution.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 15901-1, ASTM D4284, ASTM D4404, ASTM F316 and ASTM D6226. Certification candidates for this model are CE, Pressure equipment conformity and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Mercury instruments need containment for vapor and spills, a dedicated sink or waste procedure, and staff training under local regulations. Samples must be dried and sized to fit penetrometers, and results depend on the assumed contact angle and surface tension. Correct for mercury compression and penetrometer expansion with blank runs. Calibrate pressure transducers annually and verify with a reference material of known pore size. Capillary flow systems need wetting liquids with documented surface tension and clean, dry gas. Place high-pressure units on a rigid bench and follow pressure vessel inspection rules.

How do I select the right High-Pressure Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter (up to 400 MPa)?

Select this variant for rigid materials when meso- and macropore distributions must be reported together, for example in catalyst or ceramic specifications. Pair it with a gas sorption analyzer if pores below 3.6 nm matter. In an RFQ, state maximum pressure, sample sizes, number of ports, contact angle assumptions and waste handling needs.

How does it compare with other Porosimeters variants?

Choose by pore size range, sample form and the quantity that the specification reports. Mercury intrusion covers a broad span, about 3.6 nm to 400 µm, and suits rigid ceramics, rocks, cement and catalysts pellets. It is unsuitable for compressible or amalgamating samples and requires mercury handling controls. Capillary flow porometers suit membranes and filters where through-pore bubble point and mean flow pore size are required. Gas permeability testers give Darcy permeability of rocks and ceramics. Helium pycnometers supply true density and closed porosity. Check the number of high-pressure ports, maximum pressure, penetrometer volume options, automation, and whether reporting follows ISO 15901-1, ASTM D4284 or ASTM F316.