Calculation of Particle-size Distribution from Sedimentation Observations

Abstract

THE calculation of the size distribution of the particles of a powder in a suspension, from a knowledge of the mass of the material which has crossed some horizontal plane at a known distance, h, below the surface of the suspension, is of considerable importance, since it is the basis of the evaluation of test data obtained on a number of types of instrument used in powder technology. So far as is known, however, none of the previous derivations of the required relationship is completely satisfactory; the following proof, however, appears to be rigorous and general.