ABSTRACT
The study of particle dimensions is of central importance in many areas of technology. Virtually all of the solid materials which are in common use are at some point in a powder or granular form. Examples can easily be found in pharmaceuticals (drugs and excipients), foods (grain, flour, sugar), materials technology (ceramics, abrasives) and building materials (sand and cement). The main reason for an interest in the dimensions of these particulates is that it influences their physical properties, and also the way that they respond to various production processes. Some of the better known influences of particle size on the behaviour of pharmaceuticals are:
1) Particle size influences dissolution. Small particles dissolve more rapidly than large ones, which is important not only in determining the behaviour of the drug in vivo (e.g. dissolution in the gastrointestinal fluids), but also in various manufacturing processes.
