Particle technology
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,[1] an international and interdisciplinary forum, but also a division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 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 and grinding, particle size separation, such as sieving, tabling, flotation, qualitative separation such as magnetic separation, and/or electrostatic precipitation, fluidisation, flocculation, particle size analysis, powder metallurgy, nanotechnology, 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 [2] consists of the following downloadable chapters for private study.
| 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 sieve/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.