Agglomeration compression

For approximately spherical agglomerates, compression strength is calculated as follows ... 

Swyngedau s equation has proven to be a good model descriptor of food powder agglomerate compression (Yan and Barbosa-Canovas, 1997, 2000). Yan and Barbosa-Canovas (1997) converted the Swyngedau model into Equation 17, which allows for the direct use of force-deformation readings recorded from a TA-TX2 texture analyzer. 

Compression tests, in which agglomerates ate cmshed between parallel platens, ate probably most universal. To obtain reproducible and accurate results, the rate of loading and method of load appHcation must be strictly controUed. A variety of commercial testers ate available to allow this needed control over the compression process. Several means of distributing the load uniformly at the point of contact ate used, including covering the platen... 

Fig. 2. Compression strength of agglomerates formed into spherical shape by tumbling where = mean disperse particle diameter (8). To convert kPa to...

The success of the compaction operation depends pardy on the effective utilization and transmission of appHed forces and pardy on the physical properties and condition of the mixture being compressed. Friction at the die surface opposes the transmission of the appHed pressure in this region, results in unequal distribution of forces within the compact, and hence leads to density and strength maldistribution within the agglomerate (70). Lubricants, both external ones appHed to the mold surfaces and internal ones mixed with the powder, are often used to reduce undesirable friction effects (71). For strong compacts, external lubricants are preferable as they do not interfere with the optimum cohesion of clean particulate surfaces. Binder materials maybe used to improve strength and also to act as lubricants. 

Pellet Mills. Pellet mills differ from roU briquetting and compacting machines in that the particulates are compressed and formed into agglomerates by extmsion through a die rather than by squeezing as they are carried into the nip between two roUs. Several types of equipment that use the extmsion principle are available. The die may be a horizontal perforated plate with rollers acting on its upper surface to press material through the plate. 

Butyl slurry at 25—35 wt % mbber continuously overflows from the reactor through a transferline to an agitated flash dmm operating at 140—160 kPa (1.4—1.6 atm) and 55—70°C. Steam and hot water are mixed with the slurry in a nozzle as it enters the dmm to vaporize methyl chloride and unreacted monomers that pass overhead to a recovery system. The vapor stream is compressed, dried over alumina, and fractionated to yield a recycle stream of methyl chloride and isobutylene. Pure methyl chloride is recovered for the coinitiator (AlCl ) preparation. In the flash dmm, the polymer agglomerates as a coarse cmmb in water. Metal stearate, eg, aluminum, calcium, or zinc stearate, is added to control the cmmb size. Other additives, such as antioxidants, can also be introduced at this point. The polymer cmmb at 8—12 wt % in water flows from the flash dmm to a stripping vessel operated under high vacuum to... 

Agglomerate porosity can be measured by gas adsorption or mercuiy porosimetiy. However, any breakage or compression of the granules under high pressure during porosimetiy can invahdate the results. 

Mechanical interlocking of particles may occur during the agitation or compression of, for example, fibrous particles, but it is probably only a minor contributor to agglomerate strength in most cases. 

The success of compression agglomeration depends on the effective utilization and transmission ofthe applied external force and on the ability of the material to form and maintain interparticle bonds during pressure compaction (or consolidation) and decompression. Both these aspects are controlled in turn by the geometiy of the confined space, the nature of the apphed loads and the physical properties of the particulate material and of the confining walls. (See the section on Powder Mechanics and Powder Compaction.)... 

In the 1990s this approach became more common in order to ensure sufficient compressive strength with the trend to lower bulk densities. Furthermore the proportion of SAN to polyol has been increased to about 40%. This may lead to serious stability problems and care must be taken to control the size and distribution of the particles and prevent agglomeration. Polymer polyols using polystyrene as the polymer component have recently become available (Postech-Shell) and are claimed to exhibit good stability, low viscosity and less discolouration as well as providing price advantages. 

Fig. 3 Intrinsic compressibility of nonagglomerated naproxen (control) and of naproxen that has been spherically agglomerated with different solvents. (From Ref. 21.)...

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