A fully computer-controlled liquid porosimetry method is described for determining pore volume distributions (PVD) within porous solids. Recent improvements in instrumentation have increased the accuracy and reproducibility of data for the contribution of each pore size, defined by its effective radius, to the total free volume. As data quality improved, several new applications became feasible. In addition to measurements on woven and nonwoven fabrics, membrane filters, and agglomerates of loose particles, the PVD of surface pores and of the interlayer between two layers of porous material can be evaluated. With this instrumentation one can start with a dry material, follow liquid uptake, and then pressurize to produce an extrusion curve; reasons for the resulting absorption/desorption hysteresis loops are discussed. One can also evaluate contact angles within porous networks from two plots of uptake versus applied pressure, one determined using the liquid of interest, and the other a reference liquid that makes a known contact angle with the porous material. © 1994 by Academic Press, Inc.
