Surface Area
  • ASAP 2420 Automated Surface Area and Porosimetry System has 12 sample degas ports and 6 measurements ports.
  • Autopore V Mercury porosimeter has four low pressure ports and two high pressure which measure up to 60,000 psi.

Note: ASAP 2420 and Mercury porosimeter are staff-only operated equipment.
The summary of these instruments is outlined in the table below.

pore size
Range of Pore Size

Range of pore size (diameters) typically measured by gas adsorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry

gas adsorption
Gas Adsorption Curve

Gas adsorption isotherm illustrates gas uptake quantity as a function of pressure at a constant temperature.

Surface area and porosimetry include:

  • Ceramic materials
  • Activated carbons and carbon black
  • Paints and coatings
  • Catalysts, nanotubes
  • Electronic devices
  • Fuel cells
  • Clays, minerals, soils
Instrument ASAP2420 Autopore V
Technique Gas adsorption Mercury porosimetry
Data provided pore volume, pore area
material surface area		 pore volume, pore area
material density, percent porosity
Pore size range (diameter) 0.3 nm to 300 nm 30 nm to 1100 μm
Specifications
  • Pressure Measurement: 0 to 950 mmHg
  • Resolution: Up to 1 x 10-7 torr (0.1 mmHg transducer)
  • Degas System: Ambient to 450 °C, 1 °C increments
  • Currently available gases: N2, Ar, Kr, CO2, He and methane; other gasses may be possible per request
  • Four low pressure ports
  • Two high pressure ports (60,000 psi)
Sample requirements/restrictions
  • At least 100mg are required for Microporous analysis
  • 1-3g are required for Meso/Macroporous analysis
  • Sample should fit a tube that is ¼” OD, with a 9-cc bulb
  • Samples need to be dry
  • Non-destructive technique
  • Maximum size is a cylinder 2.5 cm in diameter by 2.5 cm long
  • Cannot use for materials that amalgamate with mercury (gold, aluminum, reduced copper and reduced nickel)
  • Cannot use for samples that deform, compact or are destroyed under high pressure causing the pores to collapse
  • Sample destructive technique
Measurement duration
  • BET surface area: 0.5-2 hours
  • Pore size distribution: 4-18 hours (sample dependent)
  • 30-40 min after sample evacuation (sample dependent)
More information More Info: ASAP-2420 More Info: AutoPore-V
Relevant keyword tags
MCL - Materials Characterization Lab