The Particle Size Paradox

June 9, 2020

Overview

Is there a single best particle size technique? Particle size provides important information for research and development, quality control, and quality assurance as well as understanding the small physical details in a milling or powder compaction process. Different analytical techniques seldom provide the same value for particle size. The “paradox” of particle sizing is that all the different values are the correct value.

Listen to Jack Saad, Associate Scientist and Global Technical Training & Support Manager with Micromeritics, when he compares the six analytical particle sizing instrument techniques:

  • Dynamic image analysis
  • Sedimentation
  • Static light-scattering (or laser diffraction)
  • Electric sensing zone
  • Air permeability
  • Dynamic light scattering

Speaker

Jack G. Saad

Jack G. Saad

Associate Scientist

Jack G. Saad earned his ACS Certified BS Chem degree in chemistry from the University of Georgia. As an undergraduate, he worked with a variety of tungsten compounds to induce photo-initiated polymerization of cyanoacrylate using specific wavelengths of visible light, an application used in the adhesive industry. He began his career at Micromeritics Instrument Corp. as a particle size analyst for their contract laboratory service where he developed protocols to obtain particle size distributions using various techniques. He spent seven years in the pharmaceutical industry in various formulation roles to include raw materials testing, manufacturing support, research and development, and quality control.He rejoined Micromeritics in 2011 in a technical and scientific support role for various characterization techniques.  He also works on collaborations with other organizations and universities to perform research support leading to publications in peer reviewed journals in various fields as well as participate in industry organizations as a subject matter expert, including the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).

Areas of analytical expertise include: particle size, zeta potential analysis, density measurements, chromatography

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