Agglomeration moisture

Fibrillated Fibers. Instead of extmding cellulose acetate into a continuous fiber, discrete, pulp-like agglomerates of fine, individual fibrils, called fibrets or fibrids, can be produced by rapid precipitation with an attenuating coagulation fluid. The individual fibers have diameters of 0.5 to 5.0 ]lni and lengths of 20 to 200 )Jm (Fig. 10). The surface area of the fibrillated fibers are about 20 m /g, about 60—80 times that of standard textile fibers. These materials are very hydrophilic an 85% moisture content has the appearance of a dry soHd (72). One appHcation is in a paper stmcture where their fine fiber size and branched stmcture allows mechanical entrapment of small particles. The fibers can also be loaded with particles to enhance some desired performance such as enhanced opacity for papers. When filled with metal particles it was suggested they be used as a radar screen in aerial warfare (73). 

Because mass flow bins have stable flow patterns that mimic the shape of the bin, permeabihty values can be used to calculate critical, steady-state discharge rates from mass flow hoppers. Permeabihty values can also be used to calculate the time required for fine powders to settle in bins and silos. In general, permeabihty is affected by particle size and shape, ie, permeabihty decreases as particle size decreases and the better the fit between individual particles, the lower the permeabihty moisture content, ie, as moisture content increases, many materials tend to agglomerate which increases permeabihty and temperature, ie, because the permeabihty factor, K, is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the air or gas in the void spaces, heating causes the gas to become more viscous, making the sohd less permeable. 

These relationships predict the binding Hquid content for wet agglomeration with an accuracy of only ca 30%. The Hquid content required to agglomerate a particular feed material depends, for example, on the interfacial properties of the system (45). Typical values of moisture content required for hailing a variety of materials are listed in Table 2. Very accurate information on the optimum Hquid content to agglomerate a particular feed material must be obtained from experimental tests. 

Small particles are required, to provide a large surface-area-to-mass ratio and for the solid to remain in suspension. Surface absorption of air (oxygen) by the solid, or tlie evolution of combustible gas or vapour on heating, may be a predisposing factor. The presence of moisture reduces the tendency to ignite it also favours agglomeration to produce larger particles. An increase in the proportion of inert solid in particles tends to reduce combustibility. 

Critical relative humidity The primary value of the critical relative humidity denotes that humidity below which no corrosion of the metal in question takes place. However, it is important to know whether this refers to a clean metal surface or one covered with corrosion products. In the latter case a secondary critical humidity is usually found at which the rate of corrosion increases markedly. This is attributed to the hygroscopic nature of the corrosion product (see later). In the case of iron and steel it appears that there may even be a tertiary critical humidity . Thus at about 60% r.h. rusting commences at a very slow rate (primary value) at 75-80% r.h. there is a sharp increase in corrosion rate probably attributable to capillary condensation of moisture within the rust . At 90% r.h. there is a further increase in rusting rate corresponding to the vapour pressure of saturated ferrous sulphate solution , ferrous sulphate being identifiable in rust as crystalline agglomerates. The primary critical r.h. for uncorroded metal surfaces seems to be virtually the same for all metals, but the secondary values vary quite widely. 

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