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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sadegh NadimiORCiD
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Mechanofusion is a dry coating method for fine powders in the micron and sub-micron particle size range[1]. The bulk powder is compressed against a retaining wall by a high centrifugal force field and is sheared at a high strain rate by a fixed ‘pusharm’, engaging with the bed, thereby further increasing the compressive force, and shearing it. The use of the centrifugal field does not allow the bed to get aerated, and therefore the shearing forces acting on individual particles can be sufficiently high and suitable for dry coating of fine powders by smearing their surfaces with coating powders, flow aids, lubricants and glidents [2]. It could also even alter the physical and chemical characteristics of the surfaces. Its application in pharmaceutical engineering has been explored by Zhou et al. [3] by assessing the extent of coating of fine lactose powders by magnesium stearate (MgST) powder. The use of MgST is ubiquitous in the pharmaceutical industry as it enhances powder flowability and tabletting. Therefore the vast range of applications for fine powder processing raises the demand for detailed knowledge of the system dynamics and factors affecting the energy requirements and process efficiency. In this study, the mini-mechanofusion system of Hosokawa Micron is modelled using Discrete Element Method (DEM) at four different operational speeds. Particle dynamics around the pusharm and velocity profiles before the pusharm and at the highest compression zone are analysed. Stresses on the pusharm are also quantified and correlated to the operational speed. The expended energy for this extreme shearing condition is also quantified and correlated to operational speed.
Author(s): Nadimi S, Pencheva P, Ghadiri M
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: 8th International Conference on Discrete Element Methods
Year of Conference: 2019
Acceptance date: 14/07/2019
