The packing property of CaCO
3 under a fixed vapor pressure of water or methanol was studied by the tapping compression method. The compaction behavior was evaluated from the value of the final porosity (ε
∞) of a powder bed formed by tapping.
In the region of low water vapor pressure, the ε
∞ decreased rapidly with increase in the vapor pressure, and it took a minimum value at about 60%rH. The vapor pressure rose to about 85-90%rH, a maximum was observed, and then the value decreased markedly with an increase in vapor pressure. On the other hand, in the case of CH
3OH adsorption the packing behavior resembled that of H
2O adsorption, except for slight differences observed between the shapes of their ε
∞-
P/
P0 curves.
Discussion on ε
∞ change has clarified that the packing structure of CaCO
3 powder varies with the height of tapping. At a low height, a powder bed consists of secondary particles. However, at a great height the secondary particle disaggregates in to primary particles due to a strong external force, and the powder bed is recognized as the packing of the primary particles.
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