Methods for dustiness estimation of industrial powders

Handling industrial powders leads to dust emissions. These emissions tend to generate human diseases or cause other environmental effects. A multitude of apparatus has been developed to estimate this dustiness behaviour of powders. Two of these well-known methods are presented and compared with each other. A third recently developed method is also introduced.     

Validation of surface coating with nanoparticles to improve the flowability of fine cohesive powders

Fluidization of fine cohesive powders is seriously restricted by the strong interparticle cohesion. The rational combination of nanoparticles with fine cohesive powders is expected to obtain composite particles with improved flowability. In this work, we firstly reviewed the sandwich and three-point contact models regarding the fundamental principles of nano-additives in reducing cohesiveness. Based on these previous models, the effects of the size of nanoparticles, their agglomeration and coverage on the surface of cohesive powders in reducing interparticle forces were theoretically analyzed. To validate the theory effectiveness for the irregularly shaped cohesive powders, an extreme case of cubic powders coated with silica nanoparticles was fabricated, and the flowability of the composite particles was determined experimentally. Ultimately, based on force balance of a single particle, a semi-theoretical criterion for predicting the fluidization behavior of coated powders was developed to guide the practical applications of improving the flowability of cohesive powders through structural design and modulation.     

Computational modeling of the cold compaction of ceramic powders

A finite-element model of the cold compaction of ceramic powders by uniaxial pressing is developed and validated by comparison with experimental data. The mechanical behavior of processing powders is assumed according to the modified Drucker-Prager cap model. The frictional effects and the mechanical behavior of tools involved in the process are taken into account. The proposed model allows evaluation of the density distribution into the processed part, as well as stress and strain fields. Variations of the density distribution due to the unloading and the ejection of the part are evaluated Published in Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 42, No. 10, pp. 135–143, October 2006.     

Effect of acoustic field on heat transfer in a sound assisted fluidized bed of fine powders

The fluidized beds are widely used in a variety of industries where heat transfer properties of the fluidized system become important for successful operation. Fluidized are preferred in heat recovery processes because of their unique ability of rapid heat transfer and uniform temperature. Fine powders handling and processing technologies have received widespread attention due to increased use of fine powders in the manufacture of drugs, cosmetics, plastics, catalysts, energetics and other advanced materials. A better understanding of fluidization behavior of fine powders is of great importance in applications involving heat transfer, mass transfer, mixing, transporting and modifying surface properties etc. The difficulty in putting the fine powders in suspension with the fluidizing gas is related to the cohesive structure and to the physical forces between the primary particles. The sound waves agitate bubbling and this results in improving solids mixing in the fluidized bed. The improved solids mixing results in uniform and smooth fluidization, which leads to better heat transfer rates in the fluidized bed.     

Preparation of spherical Y2SiO5 powders for thermal-spray coating

Yttrium silicate, for its high oxidation resistance, is an important candidate for protective coating for carbon-fiber-reinforced composites at temperatures above 1600 ℃. A novel method, consisting of coprecipitation, spray-drying, heat-treatment and plasma-densification, is developed to prepare Y2SiO5 powders for thermal-spraying. The composition, morphology and flowability of the synthesized Y2SiO5 powders are investigated by XRD, SEM and Hall Flowmeter, respectively. The results show that the synthesized Y2SiO5 powders are nearly spherical with high purity. The apparent density and flowability of the Y2SiO5 powders are 1.87 g/cm^3 and 37 s/50 g, respectively, which lead to a high deposition efficiency of up to 80700 for atmospheric plasma spraying.     

Magnetically rotational reactor for absorbing benzene emissions by ionic liquids

A magnetically rotational reactor （MRR） has been developed and used in absorbing benzene emissions. The MRR has a permanent magnet core and uses magnetic ionic liquid [bmim]FeCl4 as absorbent. Benzene emissions were carried by N2 into the MRR and were absorbed by the magnetic ionic liquid. The rotation of the permanent magnet core provided impetus for the agitation of the magnetic ionic liquid, enhancing mass transfer and making benzene better dispersed in the absorbent. 0.68 g benzene emissions could be absorbed by a gram of [bmim]FeCl4, 0.27 and 0.40 g/g higher than that by [bmim]PF6 and [bmim]BF4, respectively. The absorption rate increased with increasing rotation rate of the permanent magnet.     

Interaction between oblique shock waves in metal powders

In the paper, interaction between oblique shock waves in metal powders is numerically simulated. The boundaries between regular- and irregular-interaction regimes are established. A hysteresis that takes place during a transition from one regime to the other is revealed. Received 17 August 2001 / Accepted 6 December 2001     

PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF ULTRAFINE COMPOSITE POWDERS OF Fe_3O_4 AND Ni/MICA

This paper presents the preparation of ultrafine powders of Fe3O4 and Ni by a chemical method, followed by mixing the prepared powders with mica and other ultrafine powders for synthesizing microwave absorption coatings. The microwave attenuation rate of the coatings was measured by the Microwave Network Analyzer in the frequency range of 8-12 GHz at room temperature. The results indicate that microwave could be absorbed by the coatings with an effectiveness strongly dependent on the powder sort and content and the coating thickness.     

颗粒聚合体碰撞破损的细观力学仿真研究

粉末和颗粒材料常常以聚合体(agglomerate,还可译成结块, 聚团等)的形式存在.无论是自然环境中还是工业处理过程中, 微小颗粒聚合体碰撞破损是一常见物理现象.近十几年来, 对颗粒聚合体碰撞研究在试验和数值模拟方面均取得了很大的进展.特别是利用颗粒离散元方法, 结合经典接触力学理论, 对微米颗粒聚合体碰撞破损的细观力学机理进行的研究, 取得了很多重要成果.基本形成了较为完善的模拟分析方法, 提出了许多新概念, 形成了目前适于分析研究的专用分析程序.本文介绍了目前国际上颗粒聚合体碰撞破损模拟研究的一般方法和理论, 总结了现有的主要研究内容及成果, 并提出一些研究展望.      

A modified Drucker-Prager Cap model for die compaction simulation of pharmaceutical powders

In this paper, we present a modified density-dependent Drucker-Prager Cap (DPC) model to simulate the compaction behaviour of pharmaceutical powders. In particular, a nonlinear elasticity law is proposed to describe the observed nonlinear unloading behaviour following compaction. To extract the material parameters for the modified DPC model, a novel experimental calibration procedure is used, based on uniaxial single-ended compaction tests using an instrumented cylindrical die. The model is implemented in ABAQUS by writing a user subroutine, and a calibration process on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) Avicel PH101 powders is detailed. The calibrated parameters are used for the manufacturing process simulation of two kinds of typical pharmaceutical tablets: the flat-face tablet and the concave tablet with single or double radius curvatures. The model developed can describe not only the compression and decompression phases, but also the ejection phase. The model is validated by comparing finite element simulations with experimental loading–unloading curves during the manufacture of 8 and 11 mm round tablets with flat-face (FF), single radius concave (SRC) and double radius concave (DRC) profiles. Moreover, the density and stress distributions during tabletting are used to analyse and explain the failure mechanism of tablets. The results show that the proposed model can quantitatively reproduce the compaction behaviour of pharmaceutical powders and can be used to obtain the stress and density distributions during compression, decompression and ejection.     

An update on electrostatic powder coating for pharmaceuticals

Derived from dry powder coating of metals, electrostatic powder coating for pharmaceuticals is a technology for coating drug solid dosage forms. In this technology, coating powders, containing coating polymers, pigments, and other excipients, are directly sprayed onto the surface of the solid dosage forms through an electrostatic gun without using any organic solvent or water. The deposited coating powders are further cured to form a coating film. Electrostatic powder coating technology has many advantages compared to other pharmaceutical coating methods. It can eliminate the limitations caused by the organic solvent in solvent coating such as environmental issues and health problems. And electrostatic powder coating technology also surpasses aqueous coating due to its shorter processing time and less energy consumption, leading to a lower overall cost. Furthermore, the utilization of electrical attraction can promote the movement of coating powders towards the substrate, leading to an enhanced coating powder adhesion and coating efficiency, which make it more promising compared to other dry coating technologies. The objective of this review is to summarize the coating principles, apparatus, and formulations of different electrostatic powder coating technologies, giving their advantages and limitations and also analyzing the future application in the industry for each technology.     

Role of Second Phase Powders on Microstructural Evolution During Sintering

The influence of second phase fine powders on solid state sintering was investigated in situ by synchrotron radiation X-ray computed tomography (SR-CT). The evolutions of microstructure during sintering of pure SiO₂ powders and SiO₂ powders mixed with Si₃N₄ powders were observed from reconstructed SR-CT images. Typical sintering parameters, which determine mechanical properties, were extracted from the experimental data, and the effects of the second phase powders were quantitatively analyzed. The experimental results showed that with second phase powders, 1) the specific surface area decreases more efficiently; 2) pore shape evolution is accelerated; 3) sintering necks grow faster and 4) densification process is notably accelerated. It was indicated that the Si₃N₄ fine powders enhanced the sintering of the original SiO₂ powders rather than hindering the process. A qualitative explanation based on the experimental results and existing powder sintering theory is provided.     

Reproducibility and reliability of the response from four SPATE systems

The SPATE (stress pattern analysis by thermal emissions) system is currently the standard equipment for thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA). A carefully designed test program that studied the behavior of four independent SPATE systems over an 8-month period is described. The response of each system is compared with the response of the other systems in the study.     

Process of selective laser sintering of polymer powders: Modeling,simulation, and validation

Selective laser sintering (SLS) of polymer powders involves multiphysical transient phenomena. A numerical tool for simulating such a process is developed on the basis of the reliable modeling of the corresponding thermo-physical transient phenomena and appropriate numerical methods. The present paper addresses modeling, simulation, and validation aspects that are indispensable for studying and optimizing SLS process. The coupled multiphysical models are detailed, and the numerical tool based on the finite volume method is presented, with validations in terms of numerical and physical accuracy, by considering the shrinkage involved in the process and the successive layers deposition. A parametric analysis is finally proposed in order to test the reliability of the model in terms of representing real physical phenomena and thermal history experienced by the material during the process.     

The effects of chemical kinetics and wall temperature on performance of porous media burners

This paper reports a two-dimensional numerical prediction of premixed methane-air combustion in inert porous media burner by using of four multi-step mechanisms: GRI-3.0 mechanism, GRI-2.11 mechanism and the skeletal and 17 Species mechanisms. The effects of these models on temperature, chemical species and pollutant emissions are studied. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model for premixed methane-air combustion in porous media burner has developed. The finite volume method has used to solve the governing equations of methane-air combustion in inert porous media burner. The results indicate that the present four models have the same accuracy in predicting temperature profiles and the difference between these profiles is not more than 2 %. In addition, the Gri-3.0 mechanism shows the best prediction of NO emission in comparison with experimental data. The 17 Species mechanism shows good agreement in prediction of temperature and pollutant emissions with GRI-3.0, GRI-2.11 and the skeletal mechanisms. Also the effects of wall temperature on the gas temperature and mass fraction of species such as NO and CH₄ are studied.     

BEM SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM OF FLUX OF A MULTICOMPONENT MIXTURE OF GASES OUT OF A MULTILAYER LANDFILL

A two-dimensional numerical model for convection–diffusion flow of a multigas mixture through a multilayer porous medium was developed with the aim to be used for evaluation of emissions of gases from landfills. The proposed model is based on the boundary element–dual reciprocity method. Time-independent one-dimensional analytical solutions for a multilayer domain were found for the cases of a single gas and a two-gas mixture and used to verify the accuracy of the model. Although the proposed technique is a simple one, consisting only of boundary integrals, it was found that the technique can be applied with satisfactory accuracy to the problem at which it was initially aimed.     

Constitutive equations for metal powders: application to powder forming processes

A new constitutive model for cold compaction of metal powders is developed. The plastic flow of metal powders at the macroscopic level is assumed to be representable as a combination of a distortion mechanism, and a consolidation mechanism. For the distortion mechanism the model employs a pressure-sensitive, Mohr–Coulomb type yield condition, and a new physically based non-associated flow rule. For the consolidation mechanism the model employs a smooth yield function which has a quarter-elliptical shape in the mean-normal pressure and the equivalent shear stress plane, together with an associated flow rule. The constitutive model has been implemented in a finite element program. The material parameters in the constitutive model have been calibrated for MH-100 iron powder by fitting the model to reproduce data from true triaxial compression experiments, torsion ring-shear experiments, and simple compression experiments. The predictive capability of the constitutive model and computational procedure is checked by simulating two simple powder forming processes: (i) a uniaxial strain compression of a cylindrical sample, and (ii) forming of a conical shaped-charge liner. In both cases the predicted load–displacement curves and density variations in the compacted specimens are shown to compare well with corresponding experimental measurements.     

纳米-Al2O3陶瓷粉末的预热爆炸压实实验研究

对纳米-Al2O3陶瓷粉末在预热温度为0.5Tm的条件下,以不同的爆炸压实压力实施了烧结实验。通过X射线衍射分析了烧结体的晶型,并用高分辨率扫描电子显微镜进行了微观组织观察。实验结果表明,纳米-Al2O3陶瓷粉末在爆炸压力为13.1 GPa时可得到晶粒间结合致密且晶粒度在100 nm左右的-Al2O3烧结体;而在爆炸冲击压力为9.35 GPa以下时,烧结体的晶型没有发生转变,仍然是-Al2O3晶型。     

制动磨损源大气颗粒物排放的研究进展

交通运输工具种类及数量的持续增长,势必会给环境保护带来严重的影响.交通运输工具于摩擦制动过程释放的制动磨损颗粒物(即制动粉尘)已成为城市大气颗粒物的重要贡献源,显著影响着城市的空气质量.为贯彻落实绿色发展理念,探索制动磨损源大气颗粒物排放的控制措施,需深入了解颗粒物排放的准确信息.基于此,本文中综述了近年来以制动磨损为源头的大气颗粒物排放研究进展.首先,从机理层面介绍了制动过程中磨屑的衍化,简述了摩擦层的形成机制和制动粉尘的来源及排放特性;其次,重点阐述了制动器结构、材料类型、外界环境、制动速度和制动载荷等因素对制动磨损源大气颗粒物排放的影响,分析了各因素对大气颗粒物排放特性(如颗粒形貌、颗粒尺寸和颗粒浓度等)的影响规律;最后,提出了制动磨损源大气颗粒物排放研究需要加强的几方面内容.     

Evaluation of acoustic emission from pressure vessels with planar flaws

Considered in this work is the analytical modeling of plastic zones developed around planar flaws in pressure vessels. Acoustic emissions are assumed to originate from the boundary of the plastic zone. This information is used in a calculation for interpreting the data. The method of solution is illustrated via an example.