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The hidden charm of powders: Why do these tiny particles play such a huge role in industry?
In our lives, substances in powder form are almost everywhere. From the salt and sugar we need in our daily lives to the fine powders in cosmetics, these tiny particles inadvertently affect our lives and health. However, the role of powders is not limited to these daily uses. They also play an important role in industry, medicine and earth sciences.
A powder is a dry solid composed of very fine particles whose properties make it superior in many applications.
Variety of powders
They exist in many forms, such as flour, sugar, coffee powder, powdered milk, photocopier toner and gunpowder. The manufacturing processes and application areas of these products make powder technology crucial. At the same time, dust, fine sand and volcanic ash in nature are also important components of powder. Because of their importance, powders are studied in detail by chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, chemists, and other researchers to explore their intrinsic properties and potential applications.
Mechanical properties
Powders generally have a wider range of bulk densities than coarse granular materials. When a powder is sprinkled, it may appear light and fluffy; when vibrated or compressed, it may become very dense and even lose its fluidity. The aggregation behavior of powders is mainly due to the van der Waals force between molecules. This weak attraction makes individual particles adhere to each other. In contrast, coarser granular materials will not be affected by this adsorption force due to the greater weight and inertia of the individual particles.
The behavior of powders, such as delamination, sticking and loosening, is closely related to properties common to all granular materials.
Transport of powders
The transport of powders in the atmosphere is significantly different from that of coarse particulate materials. Because the inertia of fine particles is not proportional to the drag of the gas, they are more likely to follow the flow in the air, increasing the risk of inhalation. If not handled properly, powders can be a major source of health risk, especially in the workplace.
Some powders, if the particles are small enough, can remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time, posing potential risks.
Explosion risk
Many common industrial powders are flammable, especially certain metals or organic substances such as flour. Since the powder has a very large surface area, it can cause an explosion once it burns. This is why certain processing sites, such as flour mills, require special attention to dust suppression measures.
Comparison with other substances
Powders differ from pastes or gels in their flowability. Although the paste can be converted into a powder by thorough drying, it does not have free-flowing properties when it is still wet. This presents different challenges in their storage, transportation and application.
The properties of powders and their importance in multiple industries cannot be ignored. With the development of science and technology, the research and application of powders continue to deepen, and many innovative application areas are waiting to be developed. For example, in the fields of pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, and materials science, the fineness and physical properties of powder particles may have a revolutionary impact. With a deeper understanding of the properties of powders, will we be able to develop more potential technologies using powders to improve our lives or protect the environment in the future?
