Correspondence analysis for describing the morphology of powders. Application to a commercial alumina powder

Abstract The authors define a method which allows the shape of a whole set of different objects to be studied. The Fourier series allows the shape of each object to be quantified by a set of parameters. This information is gathered by “correspondence analysis”. It allows points relative to the harmonics of the Fourier series and points relative to the objects that are taken into consideration, to be represented in the same space simultaneously. The projection of this set onto plans containing the maximum of information allows it to be visualized and maps to be obtained which are the shape pictures of the set of objects. As an example, the mathematical treatment is applied to a commercial alumina powder and the shape maps thus obtained are discussed.