Cathode Active Material & Precursor Manufacturing worked example

Particle Size Distribution Yield at 68% target psd yield: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop target psd yield to 68%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate the share of CAM or precursor powder that meets the specified D10, D50, D90, fines, or oversize particle-size window after milling and classification.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Powder within PSD specification: 8 kg (held at the documented default)
  • Total powder classified or sampled: 250 kg (held at the documented default)
  • Target PSD yield: 68 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 95)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Particle-size distribution yield = powder within PSD specification ÷ total powder classified or sampled × 100.
  • Particle-size distribution yield works out to 3.2 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • PSD yield gap to target works out to 64.8 points at these inputs.
  • Powder within PSD specification works out to 8 count at these inputs.
  • Total powder classified or sampled works out to 250 count at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target psd yield sits at 95% and the headline result is 3.2 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 3.2 %.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to target psd yield, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. A mass-based pass/fail yield says nothing about where out-of-spec powder lands on the curve — fines that can be re-blended and oversize that must be re-milled both count as the same 'reject' here.

Results at a glance

  • Particle-size distribution yield: 3.2 % (headline result)
  • PSD yield gap to target: 64.8 points
  • Powder within PSD specification: 8 count
  • Total powder classified or sampled: 250 count

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Particle Size Distribution Yield calculator, set target psd yield to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.