ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Metal Powder Specific Surface Area by Physical Adsorption
 N B922

Annotation

This test method covers determination of surface area of metal powders. The test method specifies general procedures that are applicable to many commercial physical adsorption instruments. The method provides specific sample outgassing procedures for listed materials. It includes additional general outgassing instructions for other metals. The multipoint equation of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET),2 along with the single point approximation of the BET equation, forms the basis for all calculations.

This test method does not include all existing procedures appropriate for outgassing metallic materials. The procedures included provided acceptable results for samples analyzed during interlaboratory testing. The investigator shall determine the appropriateness of listed procedures.

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

State all numerical values in terms of SI units unless specific instrumentation software reports surface area using alternate units. In this case, present both reported and equivalent SI units in the final written report. Many instruments report surface area as m2/g, instead of using correct SI units (m2/kg).

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2 Brunauer, S., Emmett, P. H., and Teller, E. "Adsorption of Gases in Multimolecular Layers." Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 60, 1938, pp. 309-319.