Importance of Trace Moisture Measurement in Perlite Sand

Perlite sand is a white, granular, loose material with a porous structure, produced by crushing, preheating, and calcining acidic volcanic glassy lava. It features low bulk density, low thermal conductivity, good chemical stability, non-flammability, non-toxicity, odorlessness, and sound absorption properties. Also known as expanded perlite for ultra-low temperature engineering applications, it is manufactured by heating and expanding selected fine ore particles in a vertical shaft kiln using natural gas as the heat source. Enhanced products are coated with silicone on the surface to form a hydrophobic structure. The product's color, bulk density, and specifications are similar to those of ordinary expanded perlite.

In cryogenic liquid storage tanks and low-temperature engineering equipment, perlite sand is commonly used as an insulating medium to reduce heat loss. Particularly in the vacuum interlayer of cryogenic storage tanks, the trace moisture content in perlite sand, which serves as a vacuum powder insulation material, directly affects the insulation vacuum level and thermal insulation performance. This is because trace moisture in perlite sand can be desorbed under certain vacuum conditions, dispersing into the vacuum space and increasing heat radiation and conduction. Additionally, trace moisture desorbed at different dew points can also impact the vacuum level. It is well known that moisture ingress into the insulation layer reduces its effectiveness. Therefore, when filling the interlayer of storage tanks with perlite sand, measures must be taken to isolate the insulation interlayer from the atmosphere or to fill the insulation layer with dry gas to protect it.

How to Detect Moisture Content in Perlite Sand

Before filling cryogenic storage tanks and low-temperature engineering equipment with perlite sand, the trace moisture content must be measured. Similarly, the trace moisture content of heated perlite sand should also be determined. Traditionally, the gravimetric method has been widely used for measuring trace moisture in perlite sand. Simply put, this method involves weighing a unit quantity of perlite sand before and after heating using an electronic scale. The difference in weight (in grams) represents the trace moisture content in the perlite sand, expressed as: W2 - W1 = g. When using this method, it is crucial to strictly prevent interference from ambient moisture during weighing. Therefore, rapid and accurate weighing of perlite sand before and after measurement is required. However, external moisture interference is sometimes unavoidable, leading to significant uncertainty in the data obtained. In recent years, with the rapid development of the industry, the demand for fast and accurate measurement of material moisture content has increased. New solid material moisture analyzers have emerged, utilizing high-power ring halogen lamps for heating, combined with imported weighing sensors and high-speed data processors to achieve rapid and accurate measurement of sample moisture content. The operation is simple: place 3-5g of sample evenly on the sample pan at the 0.000 state, cover the heating chamber, and press the start button to begin heating. At the end of the test, the instrument automatically displays the moisture content of the perlite sand.

Technical Parameters of Perlite Sand Moisture Analyzer

Economical Model XFSFY-50A: Weighing accuracy 0.005g, moisture readability: 0.01%

Standard Model XFSFY-120B: Weighing accuracy 0.002g, moisture readability: 0.01%

High-Precision Model XFSFY-120A: Weighing accuracy 0.001g, moisture readability: 0.01%

Weighing Sensor: Imported HBM from Germany

Data Processor: Imported ARM from the UK

Sample Pan Diameter: 110mm

Product Dimensions: 330*205*165mm

Benefits of Perlite Sand Moisture Analyzer

The new perlite sand moisture analyzer is a solid moisture measuring instrument that enables enclosed detection of moisture content in perlite sand, avoiding interference from the surrounding environment, human operation, and external moisture.

Application Range of Perlite Sand Moisture Analyzer

The perlite sand moisture analyzer can not only be used for moisture content detection in materials like perlite sand and expanded perlite but also for any industry requiring moisture measurement. It is widely applicable for detecting moisture content in materials such as rubber, plastics, ceramics, powder metallurgy materials, diamonds, emery, iron sand, vitrified microspheres, handwashing powder, laundry detergent, and quartz sand.