In this study, a novel reversible control method for particle dispersion/flocculation was developed. We found that the conformation of a polymer with solubility pressure dependencies on the side chain changed from random coil to fibril-like with ambient pressure. On the contrary, as we reported in our previous paper, the dispersion state of slurry changes with changes in the conformation of adsorbed polymers. Based on these results, we hypothesized that the dispersion state of the slurry can be reversibly controlled by ambient pressure. The sample used was aqueous slurry of alumina with a sodium salt of sulfonic acid copolymer with a relative molecular mass of 10000. The results showed that the dispersion state of slurry at atmospheric pressure was flocculated with a specific additive amount of polymer. On the contrary, after pressurization, the dispersion state was changed into a well dispersion state. Therefore, it was confirmed that the slurry was responsible for the pressure; thereby, a novel reversible control method for particle dispersion state was successfully developed.

A simple quality management for ceramic slurries using a capillary electrophoresis was proposed. The capillary electrophoresis has a lot of advantages for the slurry component analysis. However, the ability of the quantitative analysis to the sample which the particle mixed is not performed. It is necessary to examine various conditions of the analysis to apply capillary electrophoresis as a slurry analysis method. In this study, the quantitative method of dispersant in slurry which had been prepared with smaller particle than the capillary inside diameter was examined.

Characteristics of fluidization under mechanical bed vibration for fine cohesive particle have been experimentally investigated. As the vibration intensity increased, the bed flow pattern was changed from the stable gas channels to the bubbling fluidization state coexisted with the frequent gas channel breakage. The propagation of vibration force enhances the dispersion degree of fluidizing gas by breakage of gas channels, and it contributes the formation of bubble and higher bed expansion ratio.