kvicksilverintrusion
kvicksilverintrusion is the experimental technique of mercury intrusion porosimetry used to determine pore size distribution and porosity in porous solids. The term blends kvicksilver, the Swedish word for mercury, with intrusion, reflecting its historic use in Nordic scientific literature. The method relies on mercury’s non-wetting behavior with most solids; by applying external pressure, mercury is forced into progressively larger pores.
The relationship between applied pressure P and pore radius r is described by the Washburn equation: r
Applications include characterization of soils, clays, cement paste, fired ceramics, activated carbons, and catalysts. The method
Limitations include variability in wetting behavior, effects of sample preparation, potential for inaccessible pores due to