Patent ID: 6789410
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of evaluating the porosity characteristics of a sample of material having a plurality of pores using a porosimeter comprising a pressurizable sample chamber for holding the sample, a membrane located at a bottom of the sample chamber and having a plurality of pores, wherein the membrane pores have a size smaller than any of the sample pores of interest, a fluid reservoir located below the membrane, and a fluid displacement reservoir, comprising the steps of:a) placing the sample in the sample chamber, on the membrane; b) wetting the sample with a fluid until the fluid has entered substantially all of the pores in the sample and the membrane; c) applying a pressure in the sample chamber which is greater than a bubble point pressure of the sample, but less than a bubble point pressure of the membrane, such that as fluid enters the fluid reservoir through the membrane, it displaces fluid already in the fluid reservoir into the fluid displacement reservoir; d) pumping the displaced fluid back into the fluid reservoir along a bottom of the membrane such that air bubbles stuck to the membrane are swept away from the membrane; and e) measuring a weight change in the fluid displacement reservoir after a weight in the fluid displacement reservoir reaches an equilibrium.