Theory of mercury porosimetry hysteresis

Intrusion—extrusion hysteresis and energy conservation in mercury porosimetry can be explained thermodynamically. In a first intrusion—extrusion cycle, hysteresis is explained and work is shown to be conserved when the processes of mercury entrapment and contact angle changes are considered. In subsequent cycles, when mercury entrapment ceases, it can be shown that work is conserved and hysteresis can be explained by the use of the correct intrusion and extrusion contact angles.