Institute of Space Technology

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Ceramics lab (211409)
Lab Report # 5
Section: MAT-13A

Submitted to Engr. Luqman Hashmi

Submitted by Group#5
Nawal Haider 200301055
Hassan Nadeem 200301054
Maaz Hassan 200301056
Rafay uz Zaman 200301052
Hamdan ur Rehman 200301050

Date of Experiment 18 May 2022

Date of Submission 2 June 2022

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 Table of Contents
Summary: ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction: ................................................................................................................................. 3
Experimental Procedure: ............................................................................................................. 5
Results and Discussions: ............................................................................................................... 5
Uncertainty: ................................................................................................................................... 7
Conclusion: .................................................................................................................................... 8
References:..................................................................................................................................... 8

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 Measurement of Apparent Density and Porosity of Ceramic Pallet

Summary:

Initially we start by making a ceramic pellet by some process either by pressing or casting after

that we need to find the qualities or we could say we have to see if the pellet created is strong

enough and defect free for that specific purpose we measure its density, generally a pellet which

has high density is strongest and more defect free. So, for measuring density we can use different

process either we can measure ceramic pellet in dry air or we can measure the ceramic pellet by

displacing it with a fluid, both these processes are discussed briefly below in this report, when our

sample is displaced in water and then measured the density of the pellet at that instant will be

called true density and the density of the pellet when it is dry and present in air will be called bulk

density.

Introduction:

Different classes of materials have different applications based on their properties. The properties

are based on the structure of the engineering materials. Ceramics are the main class of engineering

materials, and they are employed in high temperature applications as well as in electrical

applications. The property which makes them suitable for these applications is their high

temperature thermal dissipation and electrical conductivity. These properties are dependent on

different factor but mainly on the presence of porosity in the structure of ceramics. Density is also

an important factor for the selection of ceramics to be used in different applications.

The measurement of density and porosity in this experiment is done using a “Densitometer”.

First, we calculated the bulk weight of the pallet, then it’s suspended weight (when immersed in

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water) and finally the saturated weight. Through this information, we calculated the apparent

density and porosity of the ceramic pallet.

Archimedes principle states that a body wholly or partially submerged in a fluid is buoyed up by

a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. Therefore, a supported object partially immersed

in a container of water placed on a balance will be buoyed up by the displaced water, and this force

will be manifested as an increase in the weight recorded by the balance. [1]

There are different techniques that are employed to calculate the density and porosity of the

ceramics including fluid displacement, gas displacement, X-ray displacement techniques and by

the use of laser.

Pycnometer is a device that is used to calculate the apparent density and porosity of the ceramics.

It is basically a flask that is tightly fitted so that no gas can escape out of it. The particle density of

a powder can also be determined with a pycnometer. The powder is added to the pycnometer,

which is then weighed, giving the weight of the powder sample. [3]

The most appropriate is considered as “Mercury Pycnometry”. In this method mercury is used

as a displacement. It has different advantages, including buoyancy (13 times more than water). [2]

Figure 1Pycnometer

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Experimental Procedure:

• First, we ought to take the weight of ceramic pallet prior to placing in water. Which weight

we call ‘dry weight’.

• Then put the pellet in the compartment, which is completely filled with water and weight

it, the weight we get is called saturated weight.

• After that we ought to take the pallet out and clean it to eliminate water drops and we get

just the weight of ceramic pallet with pores. Which is called suspended weight.

• With the assistance of these weights, we can get an equation to determine the apparent

weight.

Apparent weight= saturated weight – Dry weight/saturated weight- suspended weight

Results and Discussions:

1)Present your result in tabular form

Dry Weight 2.5 grams

Suspension Weight 1.4 grams

Saturated Weight 2.96 grams

Apparent Porosity 29.48%

Apparent Density 2.27g/cm3

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2) Calculate apparent porosity and density of the ceramic pallet.
As we know the formulas of apparent porosity and apparent density, we can calculate them easily.

➢ Apparent Porosity

𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕−𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Apparent Porosity= x 100
𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕−𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

𝟐.𝟗𝟔𝒈−𝟐.𝟓𝒈
= x 100
𝟐.𝟗𝟔𝒈−𝟏.𝟒𝒈

=𝟐𝟗. 𝟒𝟖 %

➢ Apparent Density

𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
Apparent Density=
𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕−𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

𝟐.𝟓𝒈
=
𝟐.𝟓𝒈−𝟏.𝟒𝒈

=𝟐. 𝟐𝟕𝒈/𝒄𝒎𝟑

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Apparent porosity shows the porosity of the open pores only as we know porosity is defined as the

relationship between the volume of pores and the refractory sample (pallet). Porosity includes both

open and closed pores but, in this case, we are only dealing with the open pores only.

Apparent density as the name shows it includes the density of the ceramic only and it does not

include any water. (Does not include any pores).

4) How can you calculate true density and bulk density?

We can calculate the true density and bulk density by following fomulas;

True Density

It is defined as the density which does not include the volume of the pores and voids and it is the

quotient of mass over the volume of the ceramic pallet.

Bulk Density

It is defned as the density which includes water and pores also and it is also the quotient of mass

over the volume of the ceramic pallet and it is usually expressed in grams per centimeter cube.

𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
Bulk Density =𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕−𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Uncertainty:

The most common errors we can find when evaluating apparent density includes

• using the wrong or inappropriate instruments

• air factor which can increase the weight of ceramic pellet.

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Conclusion:

In this lab report we have discussed the measurement of density and porosity as well as the

importance of measuring them. They impart several properties to the ceramics, and it is important

to know it is solely dependent on the application of ceramic whether and how much porosity should

be there in the ceramic materials. Among different techniques for density calculation, the best

ones are Mercury pycnometer but not every technique is the best technique. These techniques have

some disadvantages as mercury is toxic, which can lead to serious health issues of the workers.

Our duty is to check whether we are producing good quality products and increasing the economic

and financial status of our industry or company, so for that purpose we measure the density of our

ceramic pellet as density is the measure to differentiate whether our pellet is good enough to

perform where needed.

References:

[1]
S. Hughes and J. Lau, “A technique for fast and accurate measurement of hand volumes using
Archimedes’ principle,” Australasian Physics & Engineering Sciences in Medicine, vol. 31, no. 1,
pp. 56–59, Mar. 2008, doi: 10.1007/bf03178454.
[2]
M. Lezzerini, “A mercury-displacement method for stone bulk-density determinations,” European
Journal of Mineralogy, Jan. 2003, Accessed: Jun. 02, 2022. [Online]. Available:
https://www.academia.edu/24670502/A_mercury_displacement_method_for_stone_bulk_density
_determinations
[3]
“Pycnometer,” Chemical Engineering | University of Utah.
https://www.che.utah.edu/academic_program/projects_lab/pycnometer/ (accessed Jun. 02, 2022).

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