Design of an automated particle sizing apparatus

The ability of fast transient electric birefringence data to measure direct ly the size distribution for non-spherical particles in the micron and sub- micron range has been appreciated for a number of years. As no commercial s ystem exists, this paper gives practical details of a compact, safe and acc urate apparatus to enable laboratory analysts to design, construct and use a system of their own. The method is fast, and the size data are accurate t o within ten percentage points. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.