A numerical characterization method for the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes based on fractal dimension is invented. In this method, a SEM image of the dispersion state of carbon nanotube is obtained first, and then is binarized by the ImageJ software to extract the boundary of individual carbon nanotubes or carbon nanotubes agglomerates, and thereby calculating the fractal dimension of the processed image with the assistance of the box-count algorithm. The value of fractal dimension represents quantitatively the abundant information contained in the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes, which is capable of realizing the numerical characterization of the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes. The invention quantifies the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes, and provides a powerful strategy for controlling, comparison and prediction of macro-properties of carbon nanotube based composites.

The invention describes a laser sensor module (100) for detecting ultra-fine particles (10) with a particle size of 300 nm or less, more preferably 200 nm or less, most preferably 100 nm or less, the laser sensor module (100) comprising: at least one laser (110) being adapted to emit laser light to at least one focus region in reaction to signals provided by at least one electrical driver (130),at least one detector (120) being adapted to determine a self-mixing interference signal of an optical wave within a laser cavity of the at least one laser (110), wherein the self-mixing interference signal is caused by reflected laser light reentering the laser cavity, the reflected laser light being reflected by a particle receiving at least a part of the laser light,the laser sensor module (100) being arranged to perform at least one self-mixing interference measurement,the laser sensor module (100) being adapted to determine a first particle size distribution function with a first sensitivity by means of at least one measurement result determined based on the at least one self-mixing interference measurement, the laser sensor module being further adapted to determine a second particle size distribution function with the second sensitivity, the second sensitivity being different from the first sensitivity,the at least one evaluator (140) being adapted to determine a particle measure of the particle size of 300 nm or less by subtracting the second particle size distribution function multiplied with a calibration factor q from the first particle size distribution function. The invention further describes a corresponding method and computer program product. The invention enables a simple and low-cost particle detection module or particle detector based on laser self-mixing interference which can detect particles with a size of 100 nm or even less.

A method for synthesis of nanoparticles are described. The method includes dispersing metal oxide powder in a mixture of a base liquid and a surfactant to form a primary mixture, grinding the primary mixture using a grinding media by periodically adding a surfactant solution to form a slurry, extracting a predetermined amount of sample from the slurry at periodic time intervals to obtain a testing solution to assess particle size of in the slurry using a particle size analyzer; and systematically adding the surfactant solution and the grinding media to the slurry based on the assessed particle size in the testing solution until a mean particle size of the nanoparticles is achieved.

Various embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses and methods for detecting fluid particles and their characteristics. In various embodiments, a device for detecting fluid particles and their characteristics may comprise a fluid composition sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid. The fluid composition sensor has a collection media housing configured to receive a portion of a collection media, a pump for moving a volume of fluid over the collection media housing, an imaging device configured to capture an image of particles on the collection media, and a particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry configured to calculate a total particle matter mass. The particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry is connected with the imaging device and the pump. The particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry is configured to adjust the volume of fluid over the collection media housing.

The disclosed subject matter compensates or corrects for errors that otherwise would be present when a measurement is made on a condensation particle counting system with the only difference causing the errors being absolute pressure. The difference in absolute pressure may be due to, for example, a change in altitude in which the condensation particle counting system is located. Techniques and mechanisms are disclosed to compensate for changes in particle count, at a given particle diameter, for changes in sampled absolute pressure at which measurements are taken. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

A real-time silica monitoring system can include a plurality of off-site sensors positioned at geographic locations off-site from a hydraulic fracturing well site that detect and measure quantities of airborne silica particles, a plurality of on-site sensors positioned at geographic locations on a hydraulic fracturing well site that detect and measure quantities of air-borne silica particles, and one or more mobile sensors suitable to be carried by individual persons that detect and measure quantities of airborne silica particles. A monitoring system can include a computer system that can aggregate and store airborne silica measurements taken by one or more sensors and communicate data to a user.

A dirt sensor comprising a dirt collecting surface exposed to allow dirt from the environment to build-up on the dirt collecting surface, and a transducer located in relation to the dirt collecting surface and responsive to dirt thereon to provide an output of the sensor dependent on the amount of dirt built-up on the dirt collecting surface.

A method for detecting a phase separation of a waterborne or solvent-borne or solvent-free coating composition includes providing the coating composition in a receptacle; providing a measurement instrument for receiving the receptacle, the measurement instrument including a measurement probe; controlling the measurement instrument to a) displace the measurement probe through the coating composition along a predefined measurement path with a predefined speed profile, the predefined measurement path extending along a length axis of the receptacle, b) acquire a force-displacement profile by measuring a force exercised on the measurement probe while the probe is being displaced along the predefined measurement path with the predefined speed profile; processing the force-displacement profile for detecting at least one phase separation of the coating composition; and outputting a detection result.

A numerical characterization method for the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes based on fractal dimension is invented. In this method, a SEM image of the dispersion state of carbon nanotube is obtained first, and then is binarized by the ImageJ software to extract the boundary of individual carbon nanotubes or carbon nanotubes agglomerates, and thereby calculating the fractal dimension of the processed image with the assistance of the box-count algorithm. The value of fractal dimension represents quantitatively the abundant information contained in the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes, which is capable of realizing the numerical characterization of the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes. The invention quantifies the dispersion state of carbon nanotubes, and provides a powerful strategy for controlling, comparison and prediction of macro-properties of carbon nanotube based composites.

Provided is a medium evaluation method for evaluating the suitability of a medium in which cell aggregates are cultured in a suspended state, by which an evaluation of whether a medium is adequate for both the cell retention performance and the cell recovery efficiency, the medium evaluation method including dispersing a plurality of particles in a medium, measuring a sedimentation velocity by which the particles settle in the medium, and using the sedimentation velocity thus measured as an index value indicating the suitability of the medium; and also provided are a medium and a culture method.