抄録
A model for predicting the latex agglomerate size during the coagulation process, when the growth and breakup of the latex agglomerates proceed simultaneously in a turbulent flow, is proposed in this paper. In this model, the size of the agglomerate was expressed as a function of the external shear force, the strength of the agglomerate, and the volume fraction of the slurry. The strength of the latex agglomerate was determined by a measurement of the slurry rheology in accordance with Usui’s approach, where an inter-particle bonding energy between primary particles was calculated from the viscosity data. With this model, it was possible to predict the absolute size of the cluster in the turbulent flow. To confirm the validity of this model, the latex was agglomerated in various agitation conditions in the stirring vessel, while the dependence on volume fraction was also examined. The relation between the experimentally determined latex agglomerate sizes and the calculated agglomerate sizes from the proposed model was evaluated.
