Particle diameter is the most common metric of particle size

Các loại lực tương tác giữa tiểu phân

van der Waals forces are based on molecular attraction and decrease as the distance between particles
increases. In a dry environment for powders, van der Waals forces are reported to be significant for
particles less than one micron in diameter. When adsorbed liquid layers exist on the particles, then van
der Waals forces have been reported to be important up to particle diameters of 100 μm

Electrostatic charging, or triboelectrification, occurs as a result of friction between particles and/or

between particles and equipment. Electrons physically transfer between the different solids, and charge
is accumulated (Rhodes, 1998). Electrostatic charges that build up may cause some particles to repel
each other and others to attract each other.

The electrostatic charges and forces can be difficult to empirically quantify because they are commonly
transient, irreproducible, and difficult to identify in comparison to other forces (Prescott and Barnum,
2000). However, there are some conditions that are found to influence electrostatic charges. High
temperature and low humidity improve the environment for surface charges to accumulate and
therefore the significance of electrostatic forces. The electrostatic forces are also increased by
movement of the materials across one another (e.g., rubbing the materials together) as this increases
the area of contact and can lead to charge accumulation. The surface area and the maximum charge
density (specific to the type of material) limit the amount of charge that can accumulate on a particle

In situations where electrostatic charges are negatively impacting powder flow, blending, or content
uniformity, there are some actions that can be taken in attempt to relieve static include: (1) addition of
solids with high surface to weight ratios that do not accumulate charge readily, (2) addition of liquids, (3)
changing the interior material and configuration of the equipment, (4) increasing the humidity in the
mixing environment, and (5) preparing the powders to reduce the accumulated charge

Các loại dòng chảy của bột

There are two commonly described regimes of flow in powder tumbling blenders – avalanching and
surface cascading

- The avalanching flow regime is encountered at relatively low rotation speeds, dependent upon
the container geometry and the powder properties.
- Another regime of powder flow encountered at higher speeds of rotation within a tumbling
mixer is the surface cascading regime. The speed corresponding to the transition between the
two regimes of flow in the tumble mixer is dependent upon the powders being mixed, the shape
of the mixer, and upon the material of the mixer wall. The surface cascading regime is
characterized by an approximately constant slope of powder surface and a thin layer of powder
flowing down the surface

Ảnh hưởng của hình học của tiểu phân lên Blending
segregation decreased as mean particle diameter decreased

When non-identical particles are mixed, segregation based on sifting can occur. Sifting of smaller
particles to the bottom has been found to occur even when the large particles have higher density than
the small particles

For mixtures of particles all of the same size but with different densities, no segregation was found

When one particle type was denser and smaller than the second particle type, a diameter ratio of 1.7
was sufficient to cause segregation

when the small particles are more numerous than required to fill all of the voids between large particles
or if the fines are too cohesive to flow into the voids, then segregation by sifting will not occur

powders with wide shape distributions formed relatively strong agglomerates

particles are sufficiently small, the particle-particle cohesive forces may overcome the force of gravity
acting on the body and hinder downward sifting

Ảnh hưởng của độ ẩm lên Blending

High levels of humidity may increase cohesion between particles

High humidity may also reduce electrostatic interaction among particles.

Ảnh hưởng của vật liệu thành thùng chứa lên Blending
Certain particles within the mixture may be preferentially attracted to the wall, either by shape, size,
moisture content, or electrostatic charge. The area near the container wall can be prone to have
relatively high electrostatic charge, which can lead to cohesive agglomeration of particles. When the
particle diameter is larger than 1/20 of the tube diameter in flow through a tube, significant wall effects
have been found. Additionally, a container with a rough wall has been shown to be less conducive to
free flow than a similar container with a smooth wall

Ảnh hưởng của tốc độ quay lên Blending

Two differing empirical results of the impact of mixer speed have been reported. In one study, the effect
of speed of rotation in a horizontal cylinder tumbler upon the mixing kinetics was found to have no
general effect but perhaps a complex secondary effect (Carley-Macauly and Donald, 1964). In a separate
study, it is concluded that the mixer speed has a large effect upon the pattern of powder segregation. At
low mixer speed, formation of a core of segregated particles occurred and bands of segregated particles
also formed. Increasing the mixer speed first reduces the number of bands, and then their intensity, and
then the central core is eliminated

.4.4.3 Impact of Loading Fraction

The impact of loading fraction upon mixing is dependent on the mixer type studied. For fill levels above
one-half in most bin blender designs, a central core of material can form that will never avalanche and
will not participate in the mixing process. The loading fraction in a tumbling mixer is described by Carley-
Macauly and Donald (1964) as having the most outstanding impact of any variables upon the mixing
kinetics. In their experimental work, the fastest mixing appears to occur at small load fractions

“Thiếu ảnh hưởng của angle of repose”