ISO Standardization in Particle Characterization

M. Stintz
Research Group Mechanical Process Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering and
Environmental Technology, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

ABSTRACT

An overview on published ISO standards and current projects of ISO Technical Committee 24 / Subcommittee 4
"Sieves, sieving and other sizing methods" is given.
Principles of the nearly complete basic representation standard series ISO 9276-1 …-6 and experience in first
revisions (every five years) is presented. It is intended to address especially the community of users, represented
rarely in the standard developing committees, for getting a feed back on the level of comprehensibility and
practicability of representation nomenclature and analysis methods.
Concerning the representation of analysis data, a general structure of particle shape descriptors is
introduced. With respect to applications in the field of nanotechnology the work program for aerosol
characterization is presented finally as well as contact addresses for possible contributions.

1 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION organizations in which their participating experts work,

FOR STANDARDIZATION
ISO - together with IEC (International Electrotechnical
Commission) and ITU (International
Telecommunication Union) - has built a strategic
partnership with the WTO (World Trade Organization)
with the common goal of promoting a free and fair
global trading system.
The political agreements reached within the framework
of the WTO require underpinning by technical
agreements.
ISO standards are technical agreements which provide
the framework for compatible technology worldwide.
Developing technical consensus on this international
scale is a major operation.
In all, there are some 3 000 ISO technical groups
(technical committees, subcommittees, working groups
etc.) in which some 50 000 experts participate annually
to develop ISO standards.
ISO standards are developed by technical committees
(TC) comprising experts from the industrial, technical
and business sectors which have asked for the
standards, and which subsequently put them to use.
These experts may be joined by others with relevant
knowledge, such as representatives of government
agencies, testing laboratories, consumer associations,
environmentalists, academic circles and so on.
The experts participate as national delegations, chosen
by the ISO national member institute for the country
concerned (DIN, BSI, ...). These delegations are
required to represent not just the opinions of the
but of other stakeholders too.
2 STANDARDIZATION IN
ISO/TC24/SC4
The sub-committee SC4 „Sizing by methods other than
sieving“ of ISO /TC 24 „Sieves, sieving and other
sizing methods“ is responsible for developing
international standards for particle size analysis.
16 nations are entitled to vote (P-members):
Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Finland, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, USA,
United Kingdom.
15 nations are observing members (O-members):
Brazil, Egypt, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and
Montenegro, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine.
Members in Liaison:
ISO/TC47 Chemistry, ISO/TC119 Powder metallurgy,
ISO/TC206 Fine ceramics, ISO/TC229 Nano-
technologies.
The development of the standards is carried out in the
working groups (WG):
WG 1 "Representation of analysis data“ (convenor
Michael Stintz)
WG 2 "Sedimentation, Classification" (convenor
Dietmar Lerche)
WG 3 "Pore Size distribution, porosity" (convenor
Matthias Thommes)
WG 5 "Electrical sensing zone methods" (convenor
Billy Goransson)
WG 6 "Laser diffraction methods“ (convenor Ron
Iacocca)
WG 7 "Dynamic light scattering" (convenor Robert
Finsy)
WG 8 "Image Analysis methods„ (convenor Yoshio
Otani)
WG 9 "Single Particle light interaction methods“
(convenor Kazuo Ichijo)
WG 10 "Small angle X-ray scattering" (convenor Jinyi
Chen)
WG 11 "Sample preparation" (convenor Kari
Heiskanen)
WG 12 "Differential electrical mobility analysis for
aerosol particles“ (convenor Gilmore Sem)
WG 14 "Acoustic methods" (convenor David Scott)
WG 15 "Focussed scanning beam techniques„
(convenor Gregor Hsiao)
20 Standards have been published, 14 Standards are
under development.
2.1 Representation of analysis data
ISO 9276 (responsible WG 1) consists of the following
parts, under the general title
„Representation of Results of Particle Size analysis“
Part 1: Graphical representation,
Part 2 : Calculation of average particle sizes and
moments from particle size distributions,
Part 3: Adjustment of an experimental curve to a
reference model,
Part 4: Characterization of a classification process,
Part 5: Methods of calculation relating to part. size
analysis using log. normal prob. distribution,
Part 6: The descriptive and quantitative representation
of particle shape and morphology.
Part 1 was published in 1998 and revised with an
corrigendum in 2004.
Parts 2 and 4 were published in 2001 and are under
revision now.
Part 5 was published in 2001.
Parts 3 and 6 are now circulated to the national ISO
bodies for voting.
A new work item NWIP Particle characterization of
particulate systems – terminology was established
actually.
2.2 Particle shape descriptors
The Draft International Standard ISO 9276-6 specifies
rules and a nomenclature for the description and
quantitative representation of particle shape and
morphology.
The relevance of any measure or method of shape
representation to technological applications has to be
the deciding factor for its selection and not the
complete reconstruction of the geometric particle
shape.
Therefore, this standard is restricted to
characterization methods which can be correlated to
physical properties in industrial applications.
The choice of an appropriate shape description method
in Figure 1 depends on the measurement technique
available and the particle system (in particular its size
range) under examination.
Description methods based on mathematical operation
at the contour line (e.g. fractal dimension analysis or
Fourier analysis) require a relatively high resolution of
particle images which may be obtained by scanning
electron or light microscope.
Particle Shape of an individual Particle
Verbal Shape Coefficients, Mathematical
Description e.g. Size or Proportion Parameters Shape Functions
Standard shapes Macro, Meso- and Microshape descriptors - Radius-Angle-Function
(e.g. rod, disc) (e.g. geometrical descriptors like Feret- e.g. Fourieranalysis
flat, edged) diameters, Aspect Ratio)
Dynamic (Physical) Shape Parameters (e.g.
sedimentation velocity, pressure drop)
Line-Angle –Function
e.g. Slip Chording
Other Parameters (e.g. electrical Tangents-Angle-Funct.
resistance) e.g. Angularity Factors
Figure 1 — Classification of some methods for particle
shape description [1]
Apart from such factors, the result of shape analysis
may also be significantly affected by sample
preparation (sample size and whether it is
representative, particle orientation in 2-d-analysis,..).
This standard defines the necessary parameter set for
comparison of shape analyzing methods and devices.
The properties in Figure 2 may not suffice for a
complete description of the shape of one particle and
may be differently defined by other authors.
But these particle shape properties give a good idea
how shape parameters can be measured at different
size levels.
Three corresponding levels of shape can thus be
distinguished - macroshape, mesoshape and
microshape.

Figure 2 – Illustration of surface texture, roundness
and form [2]
2.3 Other already published ISO-Standards
ISO 9277:1995 Determination of the specific surface
area of solids by gas adsorption using the BET method
ISO 13317-1:2001 Determination of particle size
distribution by gravitational liquid sedimentation
methods -- Part 1: General principles and guidelines
ISO 13317-2:2001 Determination of particle size
distribution by gravitational liquid sedimentation
methods -- Part 2: Fixed pipette method
ISO 13317-3:2001 Determination of particle size
distribution by gravitational liquid sedimentation
methods -- Part 3: X-ray gravitational technique
ISO 13318-1:2001 Determination of particle size
distribution by centrifugal liquid sedimentation methods
-- Part 1: General principles and guidelines
ISO 13318-2:2001 Determination of particle size
distribution by centrifugal liquid sedimentation methods
-- Part 2: Photocentrifuge method
ISO 13318-3:2004 Determination of particle size
distribution by centrifugal liquid sedimentation methods
-- Part 3: Centrifugal X-ray method
ISO 13319:2000 Determination of particle size
distributions -- Electrical sensing zone method
ISO 13320-1:1999 Particle size analysis -- Laser
diffraction methods -- Part 1: General principles
ISO 13321:1996 Particle size analysis -- Photon
correlation spectroscopy
ISO 13322-1:2004 Particle size analysis -- Image
analysis methods -- Part 1: Static image analysis
methods
ISO 13323-1:2000 Determination of particle size
distribution -- Single-particle light interaction methods --
Part 1: Light interaction considerations
ISO/TS 13762:2001 Particle size analysis -- Small
angle X-ray scattering method
ISO 14887:2000 Sample preparation -- Dispersing
procedures for powders in liquids
ISO 15901-1:2005 Pore size distribution and porosity
of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and gas
adsorption -- Part 1: Mercury porosimetry
ISO 20998-1:2006 Measurement and characterization
of particles by acoustic methods -- Part 1: Concepts
and procedures in ultrasonic attenuation spectroscopy
2.4 Work program for ISO/TC 24/SC 4
PWI 9277 (WG3) “Determination of the specific surface
area of solids by gas adsorption using BET and
alternative methods”.
ISO/FDIS 15901-2 (WG 3) Pore size distribution and
porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and
gas adsorption -- Part 2: Analysis of meso-pores and
macro-pores by gas adsorption
ISO/DIS 15901-3 (WG 3) Pore size distribution and
porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and
gas adsorption -- Part 3: Analysis of micro-pores by
gas adsorption
ISO/CD 13319 (WG 5) Determination of particle
size distributions -- Electrical sensing zone method
(Revision of ISO 13319:2000)
ISO/DIS 22412 (WG 7) Particle size analysis --
Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
NWIP (WG 12) Validation and Calibration of Aerosol
Particle Number Counters
ISO/FDIS 13322-2 (WG 8) Particle size analysis --
Image analysis methods -- Part 2: Dynamic methods
ISO/CD 21501-1 (WG 9) Determination of particle
size distribution -- Single particle light interaction
methods -- Part 1: Light scattering aerosol
spectrometer
ISO/DIS 21501-2 (WG 9) Determination of particle
size distribution -- Single particle light-interaction
methods -- Part 2: Light-scattering liquid-borne particle
counter
ISO/DIS 21501-3 (WG 9) Determination of particle
size distribution -- Single particle light-interaction
methods -- Part 3: Light-extinction liquid-borne particle
counter
ISO/DIS 21501-4 (WG 9) Determination of particle
size distribution -- Single particle light-interaction
methods -- Part 4: Light-scattering airborne particle
counter for clean spaces
ISO/DIS 14488 (WG 11) Particulate materials --
Sampling and sample splitting for the determination of
particulate properties
ISO/CD 15900 (WG 12) Determination of particle
size distribution -- Differential electrical mobility
analysis for aerosol particles

ISO/PRF 20998-1 (WG 14) Particle characterization by

acoustic methods -- Part 1: Ultrasonic attenuation
spectroscopy

2.5 Work program for aerosol characterization

Aerosol measurement techniques range from the

characterization of dry dispersion of powders (WG 6),
image analysis (WG 8) up to single particle
measurement techniques (WG 9 and 12) or clean
room monitoring (in WG 9).
A new Preliminary Work Item (PWI) with title
“Validation and Calibration of Aerosol Particle Number
Counters” will be started by WG12. The proposed work
item should cover calibration and verification from the
nm to µm region and to a particle concentration of up
to 105 cm-3. The motivation was ISO 14644-1 (Section
8.2.2) and ASTM F328-98 plus FDIA 21501-4.

2.6 How can new experts contribute to ISO

standardization?

You can contact the convenor of the responsible

Working group or
the Secretariat of ISO/TC24/SC4 (ANSI)
Dr. Kevin Powers, E-mail: kpowers@erc.ufl.edu ,
Fax: 352-846-1196

Further Information, Searching for Standards

World Standards Services Network, a network of
publicly accessible Web servers
of standards organizations around the world:
http://www.wssn.net

ISO Catalogue which can be accessed online:

http://www.iso.ch

REFERENCES:
[1] ISO/Dis 9276-6: 2006
[2] Bowman, E.T.; Soga, K.; Drummond, W.: Particle
shape characterisation using Fourier descriptor
analysis. Geotechnique 51 (2001) 545-554.