Particle morphology: from visualisation to measurement

The main steps of characterisation of particle morphology by image analysis, i.e., visualisation, image treatment, shape quantification, for routine use in powder technology are reviewed and illustrated by examples. Macroscale and mesoscale bidimensional descriptors are presented, depending upon the desired level of detail. Elements for a quantification of the 3D shape are given, stressing out the special case of faceted particles. The difficulties of comparing the size measurements by image analysis with those obtained by other methods (laser diffraction granulometers, sieving) are discussed.