Brochure: Micromeritics Mercury Porosimeters

Mercury porosimetry characterizes a material’s porosity by applying various levels of pressure to a sample immersed in mercury. The pressure required to intrude mercury into the sample’s pores is inversely proportional to the size of the pores.

To perform an analysis, the sample is loaded into a penetrometer, which consists of a sample cup connected to a metal-clad, precision-bore, glass capillary stem. The penetrometer is sealed and placed in a low pressure port, where the sample is evacuated to remove air and moisture — the user controls the speed of the evacuation, and there’s no need for a separate preparation unit. The penetrometer’s cup and capillary stem are then automatically backfilled with mercury. Excess mercury is automatically drained back into the internal reservoir; only a small amount remains in the penetrometer.