Three fluid method for non-mercury intrusion porosimetry

Claim 1

The method of evaluating the porosity characteristics of a sample of material with respect to an intrusion liquid other than mercury, using a porosimeter of the type having a sealable sample-holding chamber; a reservoir of an intermediate pressurization liquid; means for measuring the quantity of intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir; a source of pressurizing fluid connected to the reservoir of intermediate pressurization liquid, whereby the reservoir may be pressurized by introduction of the pressurization fluid under pressure; means for measuring the pressure; means for evacuating the sample-holding chamber; and means for connecting the intermediate pressurization liquid reservoir to the sample chamber, whereby intermediate pressurization liquid under pressure may be introduced into the sample chamber; the improved method comprising the steps of: a. putting a volume of the intrusion liquid having a specific gravity lower than the specific gravity of the intermediate pressurizing liquid at least equal to the expected pore volume of the sample in a sealable sample chamber; b. placing the sample to be tested in the sample chamber above the intrusion liquid; c. sealing the sample chamber; d. evacuating the sample chamber; e. introducing intermediate pressurization liquid into the sample chamber from the reservoir whereby the volume of the chamber is completely filled with the sample, intrusion liquid, and intermediate pressurization liquid; f. introducing pressurizing fluid into the reservoir in an incremental and progressive manner, pressurizing the intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir, forcing additional intermediate pressurization liquid into the sample chamber under pressure, whereby the intrusion liquid is forced into pores of the sample; g. measuring the quantity of intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir at each pressure, whereby the amount of intermediate pressurization liquid entering the sample chamber, and therefore the amount of intrusion liquid entering the pores of the sample, may be determined at each pressure applied.

Claim 2

The method of evaluating the porosity characteristics of a sample of material with respect to an intrusion liquid other than mercury, using a porosimeter of the type having a sealable sample-holding chamber; a reservoir of an intermediate pressurization liquid; means for measuring the quantity of intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir; a source of pressurizing fluid connected to the reservoir of intermediate pressurization liquid, whereby the reservoir may be pressurized by introduction of the pressurization fluid under pressure; means for measuring the pressure; means for evacuating the sample-holding chamber; and means for connecting the intermediate pressurization liquid reservoir to the sample chamber, whereby intermediate pressurization liquid under pressure may be introduced into the sample chamber; the improved method comprising the steps of: a. putting a volume of the intrusion liquid having a specific gravity lower than the specific gravity of the intermediate pressurizing liquid at least equal to the expected pore volume of the sample in a sealable sample chamber; b. placing the sample to be tested in the sample chamber above the intrusion liquid; c. sealing the sample chamber; d. evacuating the sample chamber; e. introducing intermediate pressurization liquid into the sample chamber from the reservoir whereby the volume of the chamber is completely filled with the sample, intrusion liquid, and intermediate pressurization liquid; f. introducing pressurizing fluid into the reservoir in an incremental and progressive manner, pressurizing the intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir, forcing additional intermediate pressurization liquid into the sample chamber under pressure, whereby the intrusion liquid is forced into pores of the sample; g. measuring the quantity of intermediate pressurization liquid in the reservoir at each pressure, whereby the amount of intermediate pressurization liquid entering the sample chamber, and therefore the amount of intrusion liquid entering the pores of the sample, may be determined at each pressure applied.