Particulate Matter Testing

Scope

Particulate matter testing covers the detection, counting, sizing, and (where required) compositional analysis of particles in air, gases, liquids, and on surfaces, using the method appropriate to the sample and the parameter of interest.

Key aspects of the testing scope include:

• Mass concentration (gravimetric) – collecting airborne particulate on a filter and weighing it to determine PM mass concentration (e.g., PM2.5, PM10, total suspended particulate)
• Particle counting and sizing – using optical or laser particle counters to count particles and report their size distribution in air, gases, or liquids
• Microscopic analysis – examining and sizing particles, and counting them by size class, using optical or electron microscopy
• Compositional/identification analysis – identifying the material of particles or contaminants using techniques such as SEM/EDS, FTIR, or other analytical methods
• Cleanliness testing – quantifying particulate contamination on components or in fluids against cleanliness specifications
• Sample environments – ambient and workplace air, cleanroom air, process gases, liquids and fuels, and component surfaces
• Applicable standards – environmental air-quality methods and cleanliness/particle-count standards (such as ISO 14644 for cleanrooms and various fluid-cleanliness standards), selected per application

Applications

• Air quality and environmental monitoring – measuring PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulate in ambient or workplace air for air-quality and exposure assessment
• Cleanroom monitoring – counting and sizing airborne particles to verify cleanroom air cleanliness against the applicable classification (e.g., ISO 14644)
• Component and surface cleanliness – quantifying particulate contamination on manufactured parts, especially in electronics, optics, aerospace, and medical device manufacturing
• Fluid and fuel cleanliness – counting and sizing particles in hydraulic fluids, fuels, lubricants, and process liquids where contamination affects performance and reliability
• Pharmaceutical particulate testing – measuring particulate matter in injectable and parenteral products and in controlled manufacturing environments
• Contamination investigation – identifying the size, quantity, and composition of contaminant particles when investigating a product or process problem
• Process and quality control – monitoring particulate levels in a process or environment to maintain consistent product cleanliness and quality

Benefits

• Quantifies particle level objectively – testing provides concrete particle counts, size distributions, or mass concentrations rather than subjective cleanliness judgments
• Covers air, fluids, gases, and surfaces – the range of methods allows particulate to be characterized wherever it matters, from ambient air to a component surface to a process fluid
• Identifies, not just counts – adding compositional analysis (e.g., SEM/EDS, FTIR) reveals what the particles are, which is often the key to finding a contamination source
• Supports cleanliness verification – particle counting and sizing provide the data needed to verify cleanrooms, fluids, and components against their cleanliness specifications
• Enables contamination control – by quantifying and identifying particulate, testing supports root-cause investigation and ongoing process control to keep contamination within limits
• Addresses both health and performance concerns – the same broad capability serves air-quality/health assessment and industrial cleanliness/reliability needs