FPIA-3000 | Sysmex PARTICLE ANALYZER

Following image extraction a number of morphological parameters are calculated. These shape parameters enable a much more sensitive characterization process as they capture very subtle variations in particle form that could remain undetected when using manual microscopy or traditional particle sizing techniques.


CE diameter (N, A and Volume based)	The diameter of a circle with the same area as the particle - 3 values are dispayed - (N) weighted by number (all particles weighted equally in the distribution), (A) weighted by area (particles weighted proportional to their area - a particle of twice the area will contribute twice as much to the %density on the distribution), and (V) weighted by volume (particles weighted proportional to their volume)
Perimeter	Actual perimeter of particle
Area	Actual area of particle
Length	All possible lines from one point of the perimeter to another point on the perimeter are projected on the major axis (axis of minimum rotational energy). The maximum length of these projections is the length of the object.
Width	All possible lines from one point of the perimeter to another point on the perimeter are projected on the minor axis. The maximum length of these projections is the width of the object.
Max. distance	Largest distance between any 2 pixels in particle
Min. distance	Projection at 90 degrees to max distance
Ferret (horizontal and vertical) diameter	Depending upon how the particle is orientated the horizontal and vertical external caliper dimensions
Martin (horizontal and vertical) diameter	Depending upon how the particle is orientated the horizontal and vertical dimensions through the centre of mass
Krumbein (horizontal and vertical) diameter	Depending upon how the particle is orientated the maximum internal horizontal and vertical dimensions measured parallel to the horizontal and vertical
Equivalent perimeter diameter	Diameter of a circle with equivalent perimeter to particle
Convex hull perimeter	Perimeter of convex hull (shape defined by analogous elastic band stretched around particle)
Convex hull area	Area of convex hull
Intensity mean	Average of all the greyscale values of every pixel in the particle
Intensity standard deviation	Standard deviation of all the greyscale values of every pixel in the particle
Aspect ratio (Feret)	Maximum Feret diameter divided by minimum Feret diameter
Aspect ratio (width/length)	Width divided by length
Aspect ratio (min/max distance)	Minimum distance divided by maximum distance
Convexity (perimeter)	Convex hull perimeter divided by actual particle perimeter
Convexity (area)	Actual particle area divided by convex hull area
Circularity	Circumference of circle of equivalent area divided by the actual perimeter of the particle. The more spherical the particle the closer the circularity is to 1, the more elongated or rough-edged the particle is, the lower the circularity.




Convexity is the object area divided by the area enclosed by an imaginary “rubber band” wrapped around the object. The convexity has values in the range 0 -1. A convex shape has convexity 1.0, while a concave shape has a lower value, close to 0.

Shape parameters such as Circularity, Convexity and Aspect Ratio provide the user with a series of highly sensitive tools in order to identify and quantify subtle variations in particle shape and provide a “fingerprint” of each sample. Each parameter is usually normalized between 0 and 1 in order to provide quick and easy comparability. Traditional qualitative human descriptions such as “jagged”, “smooth” or “needlelike” can be accurately quantified and hence correlated against important process or end-product variables such as flowability, active area and grinding efficiency.