Pore characterisation of solids is a key method in materials science for determining surface structure, specific surface area and pore volume. A common method for this is gas adsorption analysis. An inert gas, often nitrogen at low temperatures, is adsorbed on the surface of the material to be analysed. By measuring the amount of gas adsorbed as a function of pressure, conclusions can be drawn about the pore size distribution, the total surface area and the pore volume. This technique makes it possible to reliably characterise both microporous and mesoporous structures and provides valuable data for applications in catalysis, pharmacy or materials development.
One device developed for this type of analysis is the ASAP 2000 from Micromeritics. It consists of three main components: an analyser, a control module and an interface controller that controls the analyses. The analyser itself is equipped with two sample preparation ports and one analysis port. A Dewar vessel with liquid nitrogen, which is located on an automatically operated lift, is used to cool the analysis step. With a capacity of 1.9 litres, this vessel allows up to 60 hours of unattended measurements. It can be refilled during ongoing analyses without affecting the accuracy of the results.
The system is operated via a central control panel, which allows access to vacuum systems, degassing valves and heating jackets. A sliding protective shield provides additional safety by covering access to the ports if required. Compressed gases are required for the analyses, while various sample types (powders, pellets through to cores) can be examined using suitable sample tubes. Special tubes can also be produced for unusual sample shapes.
The modular design of the system is particularly practical. A single control module can control up to four complete analysis units independently of each other. This makes the ASAP 2000 suitable not only for individual analyses, but also for the parallel operation of several measurements. With its flexible features and almost unlimited analysis time, the device offers a precise and versatile solution for determining porous material properties.
