Granules from fine powder: Agglomaration

  • Thread starter Thread starter rollingstein
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Powder
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges of converting fine powder into hard granules using a Fluidized Bed Dryer. The user employs a protocol involving 20% starch as a binder and 50°C air for fluidization, but the resulting granules remain crumbly and soft. Key insights suggest that the choice of binder is critical; a binder with the ability to wet the metal while maintaining high surface tension and viscosity is necessary for successful agglomeration. Additionally, exploring fatty acid salts of the metal may provide a viable solution to enhance granule hardness.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Fluidized Bed Drying techniques
  • Knowledge of binder materials and their properties
  • Familiarity with particle agglomeration principles
  • Basic chemistry of fatty acid salts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of various binders for granulation, focusing on viscosity and surface tension
  • Explore alternative agglomeration techniques beyond Fluidized Bed Drying
  • Investigate the use of fatty acid salts in metal agglomeration processes
  • Study the effects of temperature and humidity on granule formation
USEFUL FOR

Manufacturing engineers, materials scientists, and anyone involved in powder processing and granulation techniques.

rollingstein
Messages
644
Reaction score
16
I'm trying to convert a fine powder into hard granules (1mm - 3mm dia) & was trying to use a Fluidized Bed Dryer to do it. It seems to somewhat work but the granules stay crumbly & soft rather than the hard product I need.

My protocol is to mix ~20% starch as a binder & then add water & fluidize the bed with 50 C air for about 30 minutes in the hope that the particles agglomerate.

Any tips? What other parameters are relevant?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
I'm sorry you are not generating any responses at the moment. Is there any additional information you can share with us? Any new findings?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
Greg Bernhardt said:
I'm sorry you are not generating any responses at the moment. Is there any additional information you can share with us? Any new findings?

No, I gave up on the problem. I couldn't find a way to get it to work.
 
The problem may be with the binder. Thinking about it from first principles, you need a binder that will wet the metal, but has a high enough surface tension (and high viscosity would help) to hold the granule together.

If I had to solve this problem, I would be looking at a fatty acid salt of the metal you are trying to agglomerate.
 

Similar threads

What is the coldest freezer pack material that can stay soft?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K