Material characterization methods cylindrical pore

Mercury porosimetry (MP) is an extremely useful technique to characterize pore structure of materials (Giesche, 2006). This method measures an average diameter of open pores and its distribution, total volume of pores, specific surface, density, etc. Limitation of this method is that high pressures can distort the actual pore structure. Besides it does not give the actual size of pores or capillaries, but equivalent diameter of model cylindrical pores. Closed pores are inaccessible to mercury and cannot be studied. 

A well-known method for characterization of porous materials is mercury porosimetry. Mercury has a high surface tension and has to be forced into the pores of the material in order to fill the pores. From the uptake of mercury as a function of pressure one can calculate the pore size distribution based on volume in terms of equivalent cylindrical capillaries. The total uptake of mercury at the maximum applied pressure gives the porosity. 

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