Claims:1. A method for evaluating grittiness in an inorganic powder sample, the method comprising:
mixing the inorganic powder sample with a solvent to produce a paste (106);
placing a test sample from the paste (106) on a portion of an upper surface of a first plate (102);
sliding a second plate (104) over the test sample on the upper surface of the first plate (102); and
sensing a resistance to motion when sliding the second plate (104) over the test sample on the first plate (102), wherein a smooth sliding motion is indicative of the inorganic powder sample being grit free.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from a group consisting of ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and glycerol.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the solvent is a glycol or glycerol.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of a volume of the solvent to a weight of the inorganic powder sample in the paste (106) is in the range of 1:1 – 3:1, preferably 2:1.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the amount of solvent used to form the paste (106) is in the range of 1.0 – 3.0 ml, preferably 2.0 ml.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inorganic powder sample comprises one or more of talc powder, titanium dioxide, and clay.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the amount of one of the inorganic powder sample used to form the paste (106) is in the range of 0.5 – 1.5 g, preferably 1.0 g.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein resistance to sliding motion is indicative of presence of grit.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inorganic powder sample is talc and the solvent is propylene glycol.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inorganic powder sample is accepted or rejected for further processing based on the sensing.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate (102) and the second plate (104) are glass slides.
, Description:As Attached