This part of ISO 13320 provides guidance on the measurement of size distributions of particles in any two-phase system, for example powders, sprays, aerosols, suspensions, emulsions and gas bubbles in liquids, through analysis of their angular light scattering patterns. It does not address the specific requirements of particle size measurement of specific products. This part of ISO 13320 is applicable to particle sizes ranging from approximately 0,1 μm to 3 mm.

For non-spherical particles, an equivalent-sphere size distribution is obtained because the technique uses the assumption of spherical particles in its optical model. The resulting particle size distribution may be different from those obtained by methods based on other physical principles (e.g. sedimentation, sieving).