Particle and cluster analyses of silica powders via small angle neutron scattering

Abstract

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) responses of particulate silica as disordered and ordered porous and non-porous powders were obtained. Each classification provided distinct scattering patterns which were fitted and analysed using Guinier-Porod and mass-surface fractal (msf) models. The resulting particle dimensions showed good agreement with the same from nitrogen gas adsorption analyses. Additionally, the excellent fit of the msf model to the non-porous silica scattering response resulted in an agreement between the mass and surface fractal dimension values for it and similar analyses and results published previously for fumed silica. The msf fitting gave additional insight into particle and cluster scattering dimensions with particle dimensions being consistent with those from the G-P analyses.