Advancements in Powder Characterization Methods and Developments in Advanced Powder Handling Technology

Abstract

Powder handling is closely associated with several powder characteristics, including adhesiveness, flowability, and chargeability. Predicting these characteristics solely through theoretical means is challenging due to the combined effects of multiple underlying factors, thereby necessitating evaluation tests. Moreover, expressing these features solely in terms of average or representative values is inadequate; therefore, methods for obtaining distributions or profiles are recommended. The evaluation tests, similar to powder handling processes, require the application of vibration, static electricity, and various external forces. This article describes powder characterization methods that satisfy these requirements, then presents examples of powder handling applications that employ vibration incorporating innovative mechanisms such as powder feeders, powder agitators, and bubbling fluidized beds. Additionally, it introduces technologies that utilize static electricity for particle levitation, dispersion, and mixing.