Size Distributions of Particles Extracted from Different Materials Compared with the MIL-STD-1246 Particle Size Distribution

MIL-STD-1246 particle-size distribution is the basis for specifying the particle cleanliness of surfaces for many governmental and industrial applications. MIL-STD-1246 states that naturally occurring particle contamination on surfaces follows a log-normal particle-size distribution, with a geometric mean of 1 μm, following a very precise size specification. However, the naturally occurring particle-size distribution may be a function of the material under examination or the prior cleaning or surface treatment history of the material. This paper explores the relation between the MIL-STD-1246 particle-size distribution and particle-size distributions measured after extraction followed by liquidborne particle-size distribution analysis.