Strength of Agglomerates Saturated with Liquid

The diagram shows that the relationship at - 1/x is fulfilled. Values lower than those theoretically predicted are mostly due to the fact that the structure is not as uniform as assumed in the model and that the agglomerates were not fully saturated when the tensile strength was determined. The liquid saturation was actually between 60 and 80% in this range liquid bridges are partially contributing to the overall strength. 

It can be assumed that, depending on porosity, up to saturations of = 20-40970 the liquid in moist agglomerates is present in the form of discrete liquid bridges at the coordination points between the particles forming an agglomerate. The tensile strength of such agglomerates is predicted theoretically by equations (13) and (45), respectively. 

Considering the surface roughness of the particles, the a/x values determined during the approximation may well be in the correct order of magnitude. 

---