A new method of characterising liquid uptake within particles over short time periods.

A method of measuring both the capacity and rate of absorption of liquid by powders of small particles over short time periods (of the order of a few seconds or less) is presented. The method is based on the measurement of the isothermal transient ionic current in a sample cell containing the absorbant material and the liquid. The method has been tested on solid glass beads, porous glass beads and cellulose agglomerates. Properties such as the instantaneous absorption capacity and rate can be characterised within a few seconds. No other technique is currently able to measure these fast outcomes.