Particle dispersion determinator

A combination useful for assessing the fineness of dispersion of particles in a liquid vehicle, comprising:

• a) a light source;
• b) a moveable carrier having a top surface;
• c) a grindometer gauge block disposed on the top surface of said carrier,
• wherein said block has a longest length dimension and a flat face surface, and comprises a linear channel disposed on its face that varies in depth along said length dimension and having corresponding markings to indicate the depth of the channel, wherein said channel is adapted to receive a liquid vehicle which contains a film-forming dispersion of particles;
• d) an image-producing means, useful for producing a two-dimensional electronic image of a film disposed in said channel from a liquid vehicle placed therein;
• e) memory means for archiving said two-dimensional electronic image of said film;
• f) means for displaying said two-dimensional image of said film;
• and
• g) means for analyzing said two-dimensional image,
• wherein said light source, said grindometer gauge block, and said image-producing means are sufficiently positioned so that the view of the image-producing means is aimed into the dark field below the light source so as to enable the image-producing means predominantly to receive light reflected from regions of the surface of said film which are disrupted by protruding particles.

A method for assessing the fineness of dispersion of particles in a liquid vehicle comprising the steps of:

• a) drawing down a sample of a dispersion of particles in a liquid vehicle to form a film of increasing thickness on a grindometer block, said grindometer block comprising a planar flat face surface;
• b) illuminating said film with a light source;
• c) generating an electronic image of said film using an image-producing means,
• wherein the view of said image-producing means is aimed below the planar surface of the grindometer block in any amount between 5 degrees and 20 degrees, including every degree therebetween;
• d) storing said electronic image in computer memory selected from the group consisting of:
• SRAM, DRAM, or an array of shift registers so as to form a stored electronic image;
• e) viewing said stored electronic image.