Spray drying

Spray drying is used to prepare ceramic or metallic suspensions and solutions as ready-to-press granules (10–150 μm), powders and powder mixtures with defined properties. Spray drying is mainly used for ready-to-press granules for uniaxial and isostatic pressing which affect the properties and the reliability of ceramic system components through the following granule characteristics:

• Size and shape distribution
  
• Inner and outer granule structure
  
• Mechanical properties of single granules (strength, deformability)
  
• Compaction behavior
  
• Flowability
  
• Constancy of properties during changing environmental effects

 

Products and services offered

 

• Development of ready-to-press granulates and functional powder mixtures in laboratory and pilot scale:
  • Derivation/definition of the target design
  • Selection/optimization of compaction aids (binder, plasticizer, lubricant)
  • Investigation of the effect of technological parameters on product properties (e.g. milling parameters, drying and spray parameters, suspension properties, granule preparation)
  • Alternative technologies for solvent based routes
• Transfer of developments into pilot and production scale
  
• Support with product launch at customer’s site by:
  
  • Manufacturing of products in pilot scale (test stage)
  • Quality assurance, process optimization, investment scheduling and technology transfer
• Tests with customer material, product characterizations
  
• Complex process analyses with the client

 

Technical equipment

 

Spray dryers in laboratory (2 Moble Minor, development) and pilot scale (2 Production Minor, transfer) with two-fluid nozzles (cocurrent flow, fountain principle) and rotary atomizers for water and solvents (nitrogen, explosion-proof), NIRO A/S
Materials preparation technology (milling/homogenization) and periphery (dispersing tank, heated and cooled)
Screening plants for conditioning (20–500 μm with US support [optional]), Allgaier, Telsonic