Test dusts
Not all dust is the same. Chemical composition, particle size distribution, morphology and density vary considerably depending on the source material, the formation process and environmental conditions. Test dusts enable real-world dust exposure to be simulated precisely and reproducibly in the laboratory. This allows products and components to be tested under defined conditions and their performance to be reliably assessed.
Whether conducting performance tests on vacuum cleaner or turbine air filters, or investigating the dust resistance of technical components – it is crucial that the test dust used replicates as closely as possible the properties of the dust to which the product will be exposed in its subsequent use. Among the best-known test dusts are the Arizona test dusts, which are used worldwide in numerous standardised filter tests.
TÜV NORD Systems GmbH & Co. KG manufactures and supplies a wide range of test dusts in accordance with national and international standards for filter testing and environmental simulations. Defined specifications and comprehensive quality controls of raw materials and end products ensure consistently high product quality. This ensures that key properties, such as dust cake formation or clogging behaviour, remain reproducible from batch to batch.
As awareness of the health effects of particulate matter has grown, so too have the requirements for air filtration systems and test methods. This is reflected in the increasing number of international standards in the field of air filtration.
These standards specify test methods and test materials, enabling comparable and reproducible measurement results in independent laboratories worldwide.
Machinery, electronic and optical components, as well as consumer goods, also frequently need to be protected against dust or tested for their dust resistance. Numerous standards and test methods exist for these areas of application as well. Test dusts with precisely defined properties form the basis for reliable and reproducible test results.
We supply the right test dust for your application.
The more precisely a test dust is specified, the easier it is to reproduce and compare measurement results. In filter testing in particular, the composition and particle size distribution must comply with strictly defined tolerances. That is why quality begins with the selection of raw materials.
Typical components of test dusts and test dust mixtures include quartz, dolomite, aluminium oxide, calcium oxide, salts, and cotton and cellulose fibres.
For mineral raw materials, the desired particle size distribution is achieved through grinding and classification processes. Fibrous materials are conditioned to the required length. Throughout the entire manufacturing process, internal and external quality controls ensure compliance with all specifications.
The result is certified test dusts that enable reliable and meaningful test results.
Standards: DIN EN IEC/ASTM 62885 and DIN EN 60312-1
Arizona test dusts are among the most widely recognised test dusts in the world for filter testing. The ISO 12103-1 standard defines both the chemical composition and the particle size distribution of these test materials.
The DMT Arizona test dusts comply with the particle size distribution specified in the ISO 12103-1 standard and consist of 98 per cent quartz. The designation ‘epsd’ stands for ‘equivalent particle size distribution’.
To determine the filter dust-holding capacity in accordance with DIN EN ISO 16890-3, the synthetic test dust L2 defined in ISO 15957 is used. This test dust is identical to the fine Arizona test dust A2 as defined in ISO 12103-1.