Powder micronization

Boutin, O., Petit-Gas, T., Badens, E. (2009). Powder micronization using a CO2 supercritical antisolvent type process Comparison of different introduction devices. Industrial <6 Engineering Chemistry Research, 48, 5671-5678. 

The required resolution for the powder coating thickness measurement problem is about 5 microns. Therefore a processing time unit of 0.08 ps (12.5 MHz) seemed to be ok (compare line 2 in table 1). First results based on real measurement are documented in Fig. 7. and are very promising result. Today corresponding patent is pending [7]. 

Most carbon adsorption units use granular activated carbon (GAC). The powdered form of activated carbon (PAC) typically is less than 100 microns in diameter and may be used to reduce dioxins in incinerator emissions (2) and in the treatment of drinking water and wastewater treatment (see the section on "Activated Sludge"). 

Some mechanical air classifiers are designed so that the fine product must pass radially inward through rotor blades instead of spirally moving across them as with whizzer blades. Examples are the Mikron separator Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Div.), Sturtevant Side Draft separator, and the Majac classifier shown attached to the Majac jet mill (Fig. 20-55). 

There are several mechanical air classifiers designed to operate in the superfine 10- to 90- Im range. Two of these are the Mikroplex spiral air classifier MP T Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Div.) and the classifier which is an intregal part of the Hurricane pulverizer-classifier ABB Raymond Div, Combustion Engineering Inc.) described under Hammer Mills. Others are the Majac classifier Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Div.), the Sturtevant Superfine Air Separator, and the Bradley RMC classifier. These also use a vaned rotor, but operate at higher speed with higher power input and lower throughput. 

FIG. 20-46 Mikro-Piilverizer hammer mill. (Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Div.)... 

The Majac jet pulverizer (Ho.sokawa Micron Powder Sy.stems Div.) is an opposed-jet type with a mechanical classifier (Fig. 20-55). Fineness is controlled primarily by the classifier speed and the amount of fan air dehvered to the classifier, but other effects can be achieved by variation of nozzle pressure, distance between the muzzles of the gun barrels, and position of the classifier disk. These pulverizers are available in 30 sizes, operated on quantities of compressed air ranging from approximately 0.6 to 13.0 mVmin (20 to 4500 ftV min). In most apphcations, the economics of the use of this type of jet pulverizer becomes attractive in the range of 98 percent through 200 mesh or finer. 

Fluidized-bed opposed-jet mills Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Div.) differ from the Majac mill in that powder is not fed into the jets, but the jets impinge into a chamber mich contains suspended powder. The powder is entrained into the jets. This ehminates wear on the nozzles, and reduces contamination. Otherwise, construction and appheations are similar to the Majac mill. The fluidized-bed level is maintained a few inches above the jets. The Fluidized-bed mill is available in 13 sizes with air volumes ranging from. 50 to 11,000 mVh. One application is for toner grinding. 

The paint is then cured in an oven. The curing time will depend upon the thickness of coat, shape of the workpiece and type of oven and its effectiveness. Generally, a coat of up to 60-70 microns at a stoving temperature of 180-200 C (depending upon the type of powder) should take around 10-12 minutes to cure. Contact the manufacturers for exact details. 

Example. The Pechini method for fuel cell electrode preparation. La, Ba, Mn niU ates - - CgHgO — citrate complex - - C2FI6O2 — gel. Metal nitrates are complexed with citric acid, and then heated with ethylene glycol to form a transparent gel. This is then heated to 600 K to decompose the organic content and then to temperatures between 1000 and 1300K to produce tire oxide powder. The oxide materials prepared from the liquid metal-organic procedures usually have a more uniform particle size, and under the best circumstances, this can be less than one micron. Hence these particles are much more easily sintered at lower temperatures than for the powders produced by tire other methods. 

The synthesis effort was initiated by the Horie group on mechanically blended powder mixtures of 3 parts nickel with 1 part aluminum in molar proportions and a similar sample composed of a composite particle of nickel plated on aluminum in similar proportions. The powders were a 44 74 m nickel powder and a 5-15- m micron aluminum powder, a coarse fine mixture. The powder mixtures were shock loaded to peak pressures of 7.5 and 22 GPa with starting powder densities of 60% of solid density. 

FCC catalysts are in the form of fine powders with an average particle size in the range of 75 microns. A modern cat cracking catalyst has four major components ... 

This process uses a moving laser beam, directed by a computer, to prepare the model. The model is made up of layers having thicknesses about 0.005-0.020 in. (0.012-0.50 mm) that are polymerized into a solid product. Advanced techniques also provides fast manufacturing of precision molds (152). An example is the MIT three-dimensional printing (3DP) in which a 3-D metal mold (die, etc.) is created layer by layer using powdered metal (300- or 400-series stainless steel, tool steel, bronze, nickel alloys, titanium, etc.). Each layer is inkjet-printed with a plastic binder. The print head generates and deposits micron-sized droplets of a proprietary water-based plastic that binds the powder together. 

Comparative tests performed on a Ro-Tap unit, a vibrating unit (Sonic Sifter — Allen-Bradley), and the Alpine Air Jet Sieve are shown in Figs 6 and 7. Fig 6 is a powdered cement Fig 7 is cadmium stearate, a waxlike material which clogs easily. These separations were all made on a 42 micron mesh sieve. These tests showed that the Alpine Jet Sieve effected good separations in a matter of minutes compared with the much longer times required for the other systems... 

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