AbstractParticle Technology is a broad and multidisciplinary subject of great importance but diffuse in definition. In this paper a view is presented of the underlying science and its technological applications. In particular a structured subject is dependent upon characterization techniques from which predictions can be made. In this paper the interrelationship between macroscopic and microscopic characterization is discussed. The standardisation and development of the microscopic techniques, particle analysis, is identified as the key to the development of the whole subject.