Taking Shape: Unlocking the Power of Image Analysis for Particle Characterisation
We often emphasize the role of particle size in material behaviour, but shape matters just as much. Particle shape influences how materials flow, pack, dissolve, and interact with their environment.
Think about what powders go through—from transport and filling a die to compressing into a tablet. Need rapid dissolution for fast action? Or slower breakdown for controlled release? Shape plays a crucial role in all these scenarios.
Why does particle shape matter?
Here are a couple of examples of why particle shape matters:
- Flowability – Spherical particles move smoothly, while elongated or irregular ones interlock and disrupt flow.
- Reactivity & Dissolution – Rougher surfaces mean higher surface area, speeding up dissolution rates.
Measuring Particle Shape
Looking under a microscope seems like the obvious solution, but manual analysis is flawed—it’s subjective, inconsistent, and limited by time. Reliable decisions need precise and repeatable data, which manual microscopy can’t deliver.
Automated image analysis eliminates guesswork. By measuring tens or hundreds of thousands of particles, it provides objective, statistically significant insights into both size and shape—key factors for predicting material behaviour.
Meet the Morphologi 4
The Morphologi 4 is a static image analysis system built for precision. With an 18M pixel camera and magnification ranging from 2.5x to 50x, it captures high-quality images of dry powders, suspensions, and particles on filters —measuring sizes from around one micron to one millimetre.
Automation takes care of everything—from imaging to particle segmentation, filtering, and classification. If you’re working with dry powders, the built-in sample dispersion unit ensures optimal particle dispersion with compressed air, automating the whole process.
Powerful Insights at Your Fingertips
More than 20 size and shape parameters are reported for every particle, generating statistically significant distributions. The Morphologi 4 can even pinpoint the shape parameter that best distinguishes a good batch from a bad one—no need to sift through 22 different distributions.
With industry-leading imaging and objective data, the Morphologi 4 empowers researchers to predict and optimize material performance. Want to know more? Check out the product page, join our imaging masterclass webinars, or connect with an applications specialist today.