Spray dried products - Characterization of particle morphology

Samples of industrial and pilot plant spray-dried materials were obtained f rom various manufacturers together with details of drying conditions and fe ed specifications. The samples were subjected to qualitative and semi-quant itative examination to identify structural and morphological features. The results were interpreted in terms of bulk physical properties and related t o drying conditions. Three distinct categories of particle morphology were identified, namely, crystalline, skin-forming and agglomerate. Selected pro perties such as powder flowability, particle and bulk density, particle siz e and particle friability were shown to have a direct relationship to morph ological structure.