The newest devices for measuring particle size are instruments using the laser diffraction effect. A diffraction of the laser beam (laser diffraction) is now a days the most efficient method for the determination the grain size distribution in a very wide measuring range. A valuable point of this type of equipment, apart from the high accuracy of measurements, is a very fast and fully automated measurement. One of such devices is Analysette 22 NanoTec, enabling measuring particle size in the range: 0.01μm-2000 μm, in a dry or wet mode. The apparatus has two semi conductive lasers of class III, of a wavelength 650 nm and a laser power: 7 mW. All elements of the optical system are placed on a vertical aluminium rail (Fig. 1). Heads of the apparatus applied for measuring grain size of materials introduced in a suspension and for dry measurements are assembled on separate rails. This equipment, due to the application of the solution based on measuring a dispersed light from the backside, allows covering a wide range of measuring band high end and a measurement of particle diameters from 10 nm. Maximum measurement range of the device is from 0.01 μm to 2000 μm
The LaPass control and visualisation program was prepared for servicing the equipment. This program enables viewing the analytical results, comparing them with each other as well as performing a large number of analysis, calculations and diagrams, which are substantial for a better interpretation of the obtained results. In addition, it provides characteristics and basic properties of several dozen - most often applied - fine-grained materials.
Fig. 1. Analysette 22 NanoTec general view.