Design of an automated particle sizing apparatus

The ability of fast transient electric birefringence data to measure directly the size distribution for non-spherical particles in the micron and sub-micron range has been appreciated for a number of years. As no commercial system exists, this paper gives practical details of a compact, safe and accurate apparatus to enable laboratory analysts to design, construct and use a system of their own. The method is fast, and the size data are accurate to within ten percentage points.