Micro-tomographic techniques applied to particulate solids based products characterization

The characterization of particulate solids based products resulting from the mixing of different particulate solids, characterized by different size class distribution, different morphology and different chemical-physical attributes is always difficult. Such a difficulty, both for coherent and incoherent products manufacturing, is mainly related to establish a correlation between originating particles attributes and final detectable product characteristics. The study was addressed to detect and investigate the internal structure of three different pre-mixed and ready to use plasters characterized by different porosities when set to work. Their 3D internal structure, in terms of topological assessment of utilized particulate solids and resulting porosity, was analyzed. 3D reconstruction algorithms where developed to allow a full characterization of the samples in terms of voxels based domains: matrix, aggregates and pores. The developed set of procedures, being able to realize a 3D topological mapping of the different plaster constituents, can be also profitably applied for the characterization of many other different products where the spatial identification of the different constituting elements, both in terms of dimension and position, represents the primary goal to develop and set-up innovative quality control actions of particulate solids based products.