ABSTRACT
A macroscopic body composed of fine particles naturally possesses microscopic void spaces with a size several to ten times smaller than the particle diameter. Sometimes particles themselves may have some porosity. Such pore spaces can bring functional characteristics such as adsorptive capacity, selective permeation, and dielectric properties, while in some cases they stand as a deficit. With increasing demand for functionality, recent powder-based manufacturing has tended to use finer particles of submicron size down to the nanometer range. As the result the characterization of capillarity in the nanometer range is getting more and more important.
