Chemical Engineering April 2022 - 40

Cover Story
Part 2
Refining PowderTesting
Practices
A rigorous and structured approach to determining the potential value of powder testing
techniques in solids-handling applications can improve powder characterization and processing
Jamie Clayton
Freeman Technology
IN BRIEF
DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
THE EVOLUTION OF
POWDER TESTING
CASE STUDY 1
CASE STUDY 2
THE WAY AHEAD
M
any chemical process industries
(CPI) sectors face growing
pressure to measure and control
powder properties more effectively,
either to improve manufacturing
efficiency - from raw material selection,
through processing to quality control -
or to gain a competitive edge via superior
product performance. At the same time,
there is growing pressure to streamline the
analytical processes that are used to drive
progress. Identifying the most informative
techniques for powder testing and measurement
is becoming increasingly critical,
whether to help develop innovative technology
or to simply remain competitive in
given markets.
This article considers commercial drivers
for adopting or reviewing powder testing
techniques with the aim of identifying
optimal solutions from a growing range of
test options. Experimental studies compare
the performance of different techniques in
applications from the pharmaceutical and
cosmetics industries. The results illustrate
the benefit of a rigorous and structured approach
to deciding which powder properties
to measure, and the potential value of a robust
strategy for powder characterization.
Drivers for change
Competition drives a cycle of continuous
improvement, across industries and in many
leading companies. Competitors may begin
manufacturing a more reliable product, or
one that more effectively meets application
requirements, or they may develop the ability
to simply sell products at a lower price
due to reduced manufacturing costs. The response
to these stimuli is to re-evaluate current
practices and make plans to improve.
40
FIGURE 1. As discussed in Case Study 1, a Wurster fluid-bed
coater subjects the powder to fluidization in the cylinder,
confined flow in the down-flow zone and partially aerated flow
in the horizontal transport zone
Analytical services - either conducted inhouse
or outsourced - contribute significantly
to the cost of research and development
(R&D), product commercialization, and
routine manufacture, and are often a target
for cost-cutting or transformation. A periodic
reassessment of which analytical techniques
are being applied, as well as the value of the
information they deliver, and the effort involved
in its generation is a sound business
practice, particularly against a backdrop of
innovation in analytical instrumentation.
Powder processors face unique challenges
when it comes to refining analytical practice.
The properties that define the performance
of liquids and gases are well-understood
and easily measured, and established design
methodologies for processing equipment
help to identify relevant parameters.
This is not the case for powders. Powders
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