Spectroscopic Method for Studying the Morphology of Suspensions

A spectroscopic method for studying the morphology of microsuspensions based on an analysis of the scattering component of electromagnetic radiation passing through a sample (turbid medium) was proposed and made it possible to determine the average size and size distribution of scattering particles. Suspensions of Vaseline oil (VO) filled with mica and BaSO4 of various concentrations were investigated by optical spectroscopy (UV, visible, and IR regions) and by an independent optical microscopy method. The average sizes of scattering particles were determined using these methods. The size distribution curves were constructed for microsuspensions VO/mica and VO/BaSO4 with 4 and 5% filler content, respectively. The average sizes of the filler particles in the two suspensions determined by independent methods practically coincided at 1.7 and 1.1 μm. The spectroscopic method found that the average size of the filler particles increased as their concentration increased because they aggregated.