Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
202114 
Journal Article 
Review 
A review of the terms agglomerate and aggregate with a recommendation for nomenclature used in powder and particle characterization 
Nichols, G; Byard, S; Bloxham, MJ; Botterill, J; Dawson, NJ; Dennis, A; Diart, V; North, NC; Sherwood, JD 
2002 
Yes 
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
ISSN: 0022-3549
EISSN: 1520-6017 
91 
10 
2103-2109 
English 
12226837 
The terms agglomerate and aggregate are widely used by powder technologists to describe assemblages of particles that are found in dry powders and powders in liquid suspensions. Each term has a specific meaning but, unfortunately, they are frequently interchanged at will and this has resulted in universal confusion. This confusion is perpetuated by conflicting definitions in national and international standards and this presents problems when describing powder properties or communicating results in reports and research papers. This paper reviews the current status of the definitions, with particular emphasis on their use in the pharmaceutical industry. It is proposed that just one term, agglomerate, should be used to describe an assemblage of particles in a powder and that the term aggregate should be confined to pre-nucleation structures. © 2002 Wiley-Liss Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:2103-2109, 2002 
Agglomerate; aggregate; nomenclature; particle assemblage; powder characterization; powder properties