Particle technology is that branch of science and engineering dealing with the production, handling, modification, and use of a wide variety of particulate materials, both wet or dry, in sizes ranging from nanometers to centimeters; its scope spans a range of industries to include chemical, petrochemical, agricultural, food, pharmaceuticals, mineral processing, advanced materials, energy, and the environment.

This definition is given (essentially) by the Particle Technology Forum, an international and interdisciplinary forum, but also a division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers is a professional organization for chemical engineers.AIChE was established in 1908 with the purpose of establishing chemical engineers as a profession independent from chemists and mechanical engineers.As of 2010, AIChE had over 40,000 members,...

, and as such is included in their list under the title of AIChE’s Technical Divisions and Forums.

Subjects of Particle technology

Particle technology thus deals with bulk storage, crushing

Crusher

A crusher is a machine designed to reduce large rocks into smaller rocks, gravel, or rock dust. Crushers may be used to reduce the size, or change the form, of waste materials so they can be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials , so that pieces...

 and grinding

Mill (grinding)

A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...

, particle size separation, such as sieving, tabling, flotation

Flotation

Flotation involves phenomena related to the relative buoyancy of objects. The term may refer to:* Flotation, any material added to the hull of a watercraft to keep the hull afloat...

, qualitative separation such as magnetic separation

Magnetic separation

Magnetic separation is a process in which magnetically susceptible material is extracted from a mixture using a magnetic force. This separation technique can be useful in mining iron as it is attracted to a magnet....

, and/or electrostatic precipitation, fluidisation, flocculation

Flocculation

Flocculation, in the field of chemistry, is a process wherein colloids come out of suspension in the form of floc or flakes by the addition of a clarifying agent. The action differs from precipitation in that, prior to flocculation, colloids are merely suspended in a liquid and not actually...

, particle size analysis, powder metallurgy

Powder metallurgy

Powder metallurgy is the process of blending fine powdered materials, pressing them into a desired shape , and then heating the compressed material in a controlled atmosphere to bond the material . The powder metallurgy process generally consists of four basic steps: powder manufacture, powder...

, nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...

, particle characterisation by shape, and others.

Education in particle technology

Because according to the definition of particle technology it is a branch of chemical engineering, numerous universities with chemical engineering departments give courses in particle technology such as Sheffield University. The instruction includes both theory and laboratory practice. Particular subjects in this scientific/engineering discipline are also discussed during periodic symposia. Such a symposium is The Particle Technology Forum. The 8th UK Particle Technology Forum 2007 was held on 26–27 September 2007 at Robinson College, Cambridge, UK.

The Internet book entitled Fundamentals of Particle Technology on the World-Wide Web Virtual Library of the University of Florida Engineering Research Center (ERC) Particle Size and Technology (PS&T) group consists of the following downloadable chapters for private study. Please note that reference 2 does not work, but the references are protected so it is not possible to edit it. However, the book is free to download from particles.org.uk and was authored by me - I hope you enjoy it!

Chap	Title	pp
|Sponsors' page	128
|Title page	11
|Copyright declaration and publisher information	11
|Preface	28
|Contents	27
1	Introduction	89
2	Particle characterisation	770
3	Fluid flow through porous media	167
4	Liquid filtration	784
5	Dilute systems	218
6	Hindered systems and rheology	479
7	Fluidisation	332
8	Centrifugal separation	357
9	Conveying	166
10	Powder flow and storage	363
11	Crushing and classification	260
12	Solid/solid mixing	1320
13	Colloids and agglomeration	270
14	Gas cleaning	335
15	Powder hazards	160
16	Case study	110
|Nomenclature	51
|Further Reading	32
|Heywood Tables	42
|Index

Particle Characterization

Particles are characterized by different methods. One of the many methods is the tap density (the Hausner method) to receive the bulk density. This test is performed by using a Hokosawa Powder Tester. Another test that is performed by using the Hokosawa Powder Tester is the angular repose. Angular repose data is collected by using a seive/sifter that is connected to a funnel and the powder leaves the funnel and falls on to a pan. To ensure that the powder falls onto the pan there is a vibration setting that can bed adjusted. The powder falls in a mountain shape that a small thin rod is matched to measure the angle the powder makes. After the pointer/pin is in parallel with the powder piles angle the Hokosawa Powder Tester outputs the angle of the powder. The smaller the angle the better the flow-ability.