Multi-scale morphological quantification of particle based on altitude-to-chord ratio

Quantification of particle morphology plays a crucial role in studying the physical properties of materials. Current methods for quantifying particle morphology using image analysis technology have many limitations. To address this issue, we propose a morphology quantization approach based on the principle of altitude-to-chord ratio, referred to as the ACR morphology quantization approach. This approach calculates corresponding descriptors for particle surface texture, angularity, and form across three different scales of morphological characteristics. It has established a multi-scale quantitative method to describe particle morphology. The surface texture descriptor calculated therein is unaffected by macroscopic scale variations and exhibits strong stability. Utilization of angularity descriptor results in sorting outcomes that are completely identical with manual visual assessments when applied to Krumbein’s standard particle chart and Powers’ angularity grading chart. It can also distinguish particles with different levels of angular grades within these charts quite distinctly. The form descriptors focus on how close the particles approximate to a circle along with the macroscopic scale of the particles. And it is possible to measure the distance between the concave boundary and the opposite edge in concave particles, which is a piece of information that is often overlooked in existing descriptors. Through the calculation of actual particles, it was demonstrated that the ACR quantification approach provides a complete and objective characterization of particles and the quantified results are consistent with human subjective perceptions.

Graphical Abstract