Anton Paar POROMETER 3G Capillary Flow Porometer

Overview

The Anton Paar POROMETER 3G is a fully automated capillary flow porometer engineered for precise, non-destructive determination of pore size distribution, bubble point, mean flow pore diameter, and gas/liquid permeability in porous membranes and fibrous materials. It operates on the fundamental principle of capillary flow porometry—based on the Washburn equation (P·D = 4γcosθ)—where a wetting liquid (e.g., POROFIL®, surface tension γ = 16 mN/m) is intruded into pores under controlled gas pressure. As pressure increases incrementally, liquid is displaced from larger to smaller pores; the resulting gas flow vs. pressure profile enables quantitative derivation of pore throat diameters across the full measurable range. Unlike mercury intrusion or electron microscopy-based methods, this technique introduces no toxic reagents, requires no vacuum chambers or facility modifications, and preserves sample integrity—making it ideal for QA/QC labs operating under ISO 17025, ASTM F316-22, ASTM E1294-89, BS 4513, and HY/T 051–2021 compliance frameworks.

Key Features

• Capillary flow methodology compliant with ASTM F316–22 (Standard Test Methods for Pore Size Characteristics of Membrane Filters by Bubble Point and Mean Flow Pore Test)
• Measurement range: 0.02–500 µm pore diameter with ≤0.5% repeatability (RSD), validated using certified reference membranes
• Dual-sensor architecture: high-stability differential pressure transducer + mass flow sensor, eliminating hydrostatic offset and thermal drift artifacts
• Automated pressure ramping with real-time feedback control ensures uniform pressure increments and eliminates overshoot-induced hysteresis
• Integrated 16-bit analog-to-digital conversion system for high-resolution flow and pressure acquisition
• Low-surface-tension POROFIL® wetting fluid (γ = 16 mN/m) enables full-range characterization of hydrophobic polymers (e.g., PVDF, PTFE), ceramics, sintered metals, and battery separators without pre-wetting artifacts
• Self-calibrating design with included NIST-traceable calibration membrane kits for daily verification per GLP requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The POROMETER 3G accommodates flat-sheet membranes (diameter up to 47 mm), disk-shaped filters, nonwovens, papers, textiles, ceramic monoliths, and core plugs (standardized rock samples per API RP 40). Its method is referenced in USP for pharmaceutical filter validation, FDA guidance for sterile filtration process qualification, and ISO 4022 for medical device packaging integrity assessment. All measurements adhere to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and support 21 CFR Part 11-compliant audit trails when paired with optional instrument control software.

Software & Data Management

Instrument operation, data acquisition, and reporting are managed via the proprietary POROMETER Control Suite (v4.x), a Windows-based application supporting multi-user role-based access, electronic signatures, and encrypted raw data storage (.por format). Software outputs include differential and cumulative flow-based pore size distributions, bubble point histograms, gas permeability (L/m²·min·kPa), liquid permeability (Frazier number, Gurley seconds), dry/wet flow curves, and specific surface area estimates. Export formats include CSV, PDF, and XML for LIMS integration and regulatory submission packages.

Applications

• Filtration: Validation of sterilizing-grade polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and track-etched polycarbonate membranes
• Battery technology: Characterization of separator porosity and tortuosity in Li-ion cells
• Automotive: Air/fuel filter media grading and lifetime degradation analysis
• Geoscience: Permeability-porosity correlation in reservoir rock cores (sandstone, limestone)
• Packaging: Barrier property assessment of metallized films and laminates
• Biomedical: Pore structure mapping of wound dressings, dialysis membranes, and tissue engineering scaffolds

FAQ

What standards does the POROMETER 3G comply with?

ASTM F316–22, ASTM E1294–89, ISO 4022, BS 4513, HY/T 051–2021, and USP .
Can it measure both hydrophilic and hydrophobic membranes?

Yes—using low-surface-tension POROFIL® (γ = 16 mN/m) for hydrophobics and water/ethanol blends for hydrophilics.
Is operator training required for routine use?

Minimal: intuitive workflow-guided interface enables unattended operation after initial setup and calibration.
How is measurement reproducibility ensured?

Through hardware-level dual-sensor compensation, automated pressure ramping, and built-in reference membrane validation routines.
Does the system support IQ/OQ/PQ documentation?

Yes—software includes templates aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 and FDA process validation guidelines.