Can You Analyse the Shape of Dry Powder Particles?

Particle size is often the first measurement considered when characterising powders, but particle shape and morphology can be just as important. Shape can influence powder flow, packing density, dissolution, filtration, processing and overall product performance.

At Meritics, we are often asked whether it is possible to accurately analyse the shape of dry powder particles without dispersing them in liquid. The answer is yes.

Automated Dry Powder Particle Analysis

The BeVision D3 Series combines automated dry dispersion with advanced Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) to provide detailed particle size and shape measurements without liquid dispersion.

Its intelligent dispersion system helps deliver consistent and repeatable sample presentation, while a dual-camera imaging system captures high-resolution images across a broad particle size range. This allows laboratories to understand not only how large particles are, but what they look like.

The system can identify and quantify different particle morphologies, including:

• Near-spherical particles
• Rod-shaped particles
• Needle-like particles
• Irregular particles

More Information Than Traditional Sieve Analysis

Traditional sieve analysis can provide useful particle size data, but it cannot describe particle morphology. The BeVision D3 measures particle size and shape simultaneously, with results available in as little as 1–3 minutes.

Users can also compare results with existing sieve data, helping laboratories move towards a more detailed approach to dry powder characterisation.

The BeVision D3 is suitable for applications across plastics and polymers, additive manufacturing, abrasives, agriculture, chemicals, petroleum catalysts and advanced materials. Samples are fully recovered after analysis, making the system suitable for valuable or limited quantities.

Software provides particle size and shape distributions, population statistics, high-resolution images and a searchable gallery of analysed particles.

Particle Characterisation Specialists

At Meritics, we help laboratories select the right particle characterisation technology for their application. As the UK's Particle Characterisation Specialists, we supply more than 50 instruments across 15 complementary technologies from 11 world-leading manufacturers.

If you need detailed dry powder particle size and shape analysis, the BeVision D3 offers a fast, automated and informative solution.