Evaluation of the effectiveness of the air permeability method and the BET method for determining the specific surface area of dispersed mineral powders of various types

A comparative assessment was made and limitations of the applicability of the air permeability and nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET) methods were identified for determining the specific surface area of various types of mineral raw materials: quartz sand from the Volskoye deposit, high-alumina clinker and calcined aluminas. It was shown that the key factor in choosing a method for determining of the specific surface area value ofthe studied mineral materials is the specificity of their textural characteristics, such as the surface microstructure, median size (D50) and the content of the submicron fraction of particles.