What is the term for the action of reducing a material to small particles?

The term that describes the action of reducing a material to small particles is comminution. This process involves breaking down a substance into finer particles, which is a crucial step in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, food processing, and material science. Comminution is essential for ensuring uniformity in the size of particles for optimal mixing, dissolving, or absorption.

Granulation refers to the process of forming grains or granules from a powdery substance, which is typically used to enhance the flow properties of powders or improve tablet formulation. Filtration involves separating solids from liquids or gases using a barrier, typically a filter, and is not related to reducing particle size. Maceration entails softening or breaking down a material (often food) in a liquid medium, usually to enhance extraction processes but does not specifically refer to reducing size in the same way as comminution does.