Scope:

The ASTM C1730 standard is helpful for both – the producer and user of ceramic powders. Manufacturers rely on the ASTM C1730 test data for its use in specification preparation or predicting the quality of the materials examined.The test standards can be applied to other ceramic materials based on their property of X-ray absorption. 

Test Procedure:

In ASTM C1730 standard method, a thoroughly dispersed homogeneous suspension of the ceramic powder is allowed to settle in a cell scanned by a collimated X-ray beam of constant intensity. The net X-ray signal is inversely proportional to the sample concentration in the dispersing medium, and the diameter of the particle is related to the point of the X-ray beam relative to the top of the cell. Cumulative mass percent versus equivalent spherical diameter is recorded to yield the particle size distribution curve.

Specimen Size : 

In ASTM C1730, silicon nitride powder with a determined median diameter of 1.0 m is used and silicon carbide with the mass of 5g per 100 mL of dispersing medium is used.

Data:

The ASTM C1730 test is useful in finding the particle distribution of ceramic materials by monitoring sedimentation gravity.  The test standards works on the Reynolds number (Re) that is given by: 

Re = D³ (ρ – ρ_o) ρ_o g / 18 η²  

Since:
D = the diameter of the largest particle in cm.
ρ = the particle density.
ρ0 = the suspending liquid density.
g = the acceleration due to gravity.
η = the suspending liquid viscosity.

Conclusion:

The ASTM C1730 standard regulates the measurement of ceramic powder for particle size distribution.