Powder
Technology
In many of the process industries more than 70% of the products are
sold in the form of powders, pass through a powder stage in their manufacture,
or use powders as their raw material. Some examples are found in the
food, chemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear and metal industries.
The importance of a knowledge of powder technology and science to these
industries cannot be over-emphasised, yet few undergraduate science
or engineering courses contain even a passing reference to the subject
area.
Very often the difficulties encountered in handling and processing particulate
solids are ignored or under-estimated at the design stage, with the
result that start-up and operational problems reduce the effective capacity
of the plant and threaten the quality of the products. A basic understanding
of the technology of powders can minimise processing problems and help
industrial scientists and engineers to improve existing operations.
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