Laser Diffraction

What Is Laser Diffraction?

Laser diffraction measures particle size by analyzing how particles scatter a laser beam. Larger particles scatter light at smaller angles, while smaller particles scatter light at larger angles. By applying optical models, the scattered light pattern is converted into a particle size distribution.

Because thousands of particles are measured simultaneously, laser diffraction provides reliable and representative PSD data in a short time.

What Laser Diffraction Measures

Laser diffraction provides:

Particle size distribution (PSD)
Volume-based particle size metrics (e.g., D10, D50, D90)
Mean and median particle size
Distribution width and uniformity
Changes in particle size due to processing or handling

These results are commonly used to define specifications and acceptance criteria.

Why Particle Size Matters

Particle size strongly influences:

flowability and handling
packing density and compaction behavior
dissolution and reaction rates
filtration and separation efficiency
coating uniformity and surface quality
mechanical and thermal performance

Laser diffraction helps you:

control particle size during production
compare materials from different suppliers
optimize milling, grinding, or granulation processes
identify agglomeration or oversize particles
correlate PSD with product performance

Typical Application Scenarios

Powders & Granular Materials

Particle size control for powders and granules
Detection of fines or oversized particles
Batch-to-batch consistency verification

Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals

PSD monitoring for formulation stability
Process optimization and validation
Supplier qualification and incoming inspection

Ceramics & Advanced Materials

Particle size control for sintering and densification
Comparison of raw materials and processing routes
Quality control of powders

Food & Consumer Products

Ingredient particle size consistency
Performance and appearance control
Troubleshooting processing issues

Failure Analysis & Troubleshooting

Investigation of flow, packing, or segregation problems
Comparison of “good vs. problematic” materials
Identification of agglomeration or processing-induced changes

Sample Types

Laser diffraction can be applied to:

dry powders and granules
liquid suspensions and dispersions
slurries and emulsions (case-dependent)

Xinbodi selects dry or wet dispersion methods based on material properties and analytical objectives to ensure reliable results.

What You Will Receive

Each laser diffraction project is delivered with a clear, structured report designed for engineering and quality decisions. A typical deliverable includes:

measurement objective and sample description
dispersion method and test conditions
particle size distribution curves
D10, D50, D90 and related statistics
comparison summaries (batch vs. batch, supplier vs. supplier)
interpretation of PSD results and their impact on performance
recommendations for process optimization or follow-up testing

Why Choose Xinbodi for Laser Diffraction?

Experience with a wide range of powders and dispersions
Proper dispersion strategy selection to avoid artifacts
Fast, repeatable, and statistically robust measurements
Clear interpretation beyond raw PSD curves
Support for R&D, QC, and troubleshooting
Confidential handling of proprietary materials and data