Mechanical Properties of Agglomerates Produced by the Mechanical Vibration of Cohesive Powders

The process of granule formation from aggregative cohesive powders under the action of mechanical vibration is studied. Vibration frequency and acceleration levels were set independently in the experiments. The process of agglomerate formation is examined by measuring the size distributions of the agglomerates and their resistance under uniaxial compression. The results indicate the formation of wide particle size distributions and hard and compact agglomerates. The experimental results and the interpretation of data suggest that, in order to produce agglomerates by mechanical vibration, powders should have flow functions with a flow factor value smaller than 3. In agreement with the theoretical framework proposed, agglomerate consolidation pressures and deformation at breakage seem to be almost independent of the agglomerate diameter and the vibration conditions.