MERCURY POROSIMETRY STUDIES .1. LOW MELTING ALLOY INTRUSION STUDIES AS AN AID TO THE INTERPRETATION OF MERCURY POROSIMETRY DATA

Low melting alloy intrusion experiments offer a convenient and simple technique to aid in interpretation of mercury intrusion curves. By substituting a low melting alloy (Cerrolow® 117, m.p. 47 °C) for mercury in an intrusion experiment, it is possible to 'freeze' the intrusion process at any given pressure merely by cooling the alloy below its melting point. The 'frozen' intrusion sample may then be sectioned and examined under the microscope to determine how the metal is entering the porous structure. Two samples of poly(vinyl chloride) resin were investigated by this technique. The inter-particle penetration process was found to be consistent with the notion of bed depacking rather than bed penetration. The intraparticle penetration process was observed to be different for the two samples investigated. In one case the limiting pores were located in the outer surface while in the other sample they were located in the interior of the particle. © 1979.