Nov 30 2005
In response to industry demand, the PowdermatriX Faraday Partnership has held its first interactive session on Spray Granulation.
The half-day session, which highlighted improvements in materials processing, was held at CERAM, the internationally renowned centre for materials and technology based in Stoke-on-Trent .
Specific problems encountered during spray drying have often drawn on local solutions that do not read directly across into other systems or other materials. However, there are many instances where solutions are more generic and can be said to constitute ‘best practice’.
The PowdermatriX Interest Group for members aimed to help share this best practice in spray drying, and develop a better understanding of the influence that powder suspension properties have on the performance of the granulate produced.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Ian Wilson, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University, who reviewed the recent developments in spray granulation coming from UK universities. These advances have had an initial impact on the pharmaceutical and food industries, but have a high relevance to the materials sector.
Peter Hancock of CERAM took the opportunity to discuss slip flow properties and their effect on the spraying process and final product, while Steve Kessel, also of CERAM, gave an overview of the effects and impacts that binders and additives have on the quality of the granulate produced. Potential alternative water based environmentally friendly binders were also highlighted.
Discussions identified contact with suppliers and atomisation of complex slurries as areas of key interest for future activities by the group.
For further information on the areas discussed at the Spray Granulation session, please contact John Cotton on 01782 764 217.