Particles with an identity: Tracking and tracing in commodity products

• Well defined particles can be used as information carriers.
• Particles are an ideal tool for product authentication and anti-counterfeit measures.
• Powders may facilitate a global materials identification system.

Identity is value. Knowledge of the origin, processing and supply chain of a product determines its market price. As particles can be used to carry very unique information (size/shape/optical/electronic/chemical), and at the same time be of extremely small dimensions and invisible, powders are an ideal choice to be used as a taggant — as an information carrying entity that is added to another product to identify it. Recent advantages in synthesizing and analyzing unique features of particles address the growing need of identifying products in the product life cycle. This is illustrated by particulate tracers, which are of non-toxic composition and can be uniquely analyzed at part per billion (ppb) concentration ranges in fully automated procedures. It is envisioned that these technological advances in powder technology will help to build a global materials identification system, guaranteeing product value and increasing manufacturer responsibility and liability.

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