In short
Sciensano measures the shape and size of a rod-shape, TiO2 candidate reference material using quantitative TEM for the European Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (JRC-IRMM). Based on these results, IRMM develops a measurement standard to check the quality and metrological traceability of products, to validate analytical measurement methods, and for calibration of instruments.
Project description
There is an increasing need for nano-sized Certified Reference Materials (CRM). These materials will serve as ‘controls’ or standards used to check the quality and metrological traceability of products, to validate analytical measurement methods, or for the calibration of instruments. These reference materials are produced under stringent manufacturing procedures and differ from laboratory reagents in their certification and the traceability of the data provided.
The properties of a nanomaterial are besides by its size, also determined by its shape. Therefore, JRC-IRMM aims to produce a reference material with certified size and shape. TEM is one of the few methods that allow to estimate such measurands precisely. Therefore, Sciensano contributes as a validated supplier of JRC-IRMM for Electron Microscopy analysis to the detailed characterisation of a rod-shaped, TiO2 candidate reference material (CRM: ERM-FD103) using TEM.
This characterisation includes analyses of the material in 5 phases:
- Inspection test of the TiO2 rod-shaped CRM
- Homogeneity study of the TiO2 rod-shaped CRM
- Micro-homogeneity study of the TiO2 rod-shaped CRM
- Short-term stability study
- Long-term stability study
