2D-fractal based approach for fine particulate characterization: An application to limestone fillers

A full target oriented fine and ultrafine particles systems characterization represents an hard task to reach. Such a difficulty is mainly linked to the problems arising when, starting from a full analysis of single particles properties (i.e. size, shape, surface characteristics and density) a correlation with their behaviour in bulk has to be established. In this paper an innovative approach is proposed in order to detect and quantify the overall attributes of fine and ultrafine particles resulting from different processes and characterized by different particle characteristics. The proposed approach is based on: a 2D-fractal analysis of fine and ultrafine particles population acquired as digital images. This approach allows to perform a full measurement and control of fine particles structure and texture by evaluating statistical fractal parameters on the base of the topological assessment of the particles on a flat surface. The work was developed with the aim to develop and implement a reliable and simple tool to use for particulate products characterization and recognition able to correlate the characteristics of fine particles detected by the proposed logics and those usually extracted by using classic methods.