Why We Care About Particle Size and Surface Area

• These characteristics control many properties of materials:

• Flowability ;

• “Filter-ability”

• Viscosity- Reology ;

• Agglomeration;

• Dusting tendency;

• Settling rate;

• Activity/Reactivity rate (e.g. of catalyst);

• Dissolution rate (of pharmaceutical);

• Gas absorption;

• Hydration rate (of cement);

• Moisture absorption;

• Entry into lungs (shape dependency too);

• Combustion rate (of fuel)

• Etc…