PARTICLE SHAPE

As well as particle size, the shape of constituent particles can also have a significant impact on
the performance or processing of particulate materials. Many industries are now also making particle
shape measurements in addition to particle size in order to gain a better understanding of their products
and processes. Some areas where particle shape can have an impact include:

• reactivity and solubility e.g. pharmaceutical actives

• powder flow and handling e.g. drug delivery systems
• ceramic sinter properties e.g. ceramic filters
• abrasive efficiency e.g. SiC wire saws
• texture and feel e.g. food ingredients.

Particle shape affects the:

Packing properties
Flow properties
Surface area

Regular-shaped particles can be accurately described by giving the shape and a number of dimensions.
Examples are given in Table 1.1.

 A sphere has a minimum surface area per unit volume. More asymmetric the particle, the
greater I the surface area per unit volume.
 An asymmetric particle is more difficult to characterize in terms of surface diameter. So,
asymmetric particle’s surface diameter is measured in terms of some equivalent spherical
diameter.

Surface area of sphere S=π d 2

π d3
Volume of sphere V =
6
 So, to estimate surface area or volume of an asymmetric particle; it it necessary to choose a
diameter that relates this to surface area or volume of a sphere through a correction factor.

SPECIFIC SURFACE

 The specific surface of a particle is defined as; the surface area per unit volume ( Sv ¿ or per unit
weight ( Sw ¿.
 The specific surface area per unit volume is given by,

Surface area of particles

Sv =
Volume of particles

2
n ∝s d ∝s
Sv = 3
= (1)
n ∝v v d ∝v d
Where, n = number of particles
D = volume-surface mean diameter

 The surface area per unit weight is,

 Sv
Sw =
ρ
Where ρ = true density of particles

 Putting the value of Sv from equation (1),

∝s
Sw =
ρ ∝v d vs

For spherical or nearly spherical particles,

6
Sw =
ρ d vs
∝s
(as =6 for a sphere )
∝v

SPHERICITY

 Sphericity is defined as the surface area of a sphere of the same volume as that of the particle
divided by the actual surface area of the particle.

S sph
ϕ s=
Sp
Where:
Ssph =surface area of same volume as particle
S p=surface areaof particle

 Defining Γ p as volume of one particle and Γ sph as volume of the sphere, where Γ sph=Γ p
S sph
Γ sph
ϕ s=
Sp
Γp

π 3

2
For a sphere, Ssph =π D sph and Γ sph= D where D sph is the spher e ' s diameter .
6 sph
S sph 6
 So we have − giving
Γ sph D sph
6
D sph
ϕ s=
Sp
Γp
 Note: The Sphericity of particles of a particular shape is independent of their sizes.

The Use of sphericity:

-It is used to calculate other properties, e.g. surface area.
-If you know the sphericity of one particle, you can use it for bulk particles with different sizes
but the same shape.