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E-mail
info@malvern.com.cn
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Phone
13361877513
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Address
1st Floor, Building D, San Yin Ji Jin Yuan, No. 88 Shuanglian Road, Xujing Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
McMurdik (Shanghai) Instrument Co., Ltd
info@malvern.com.cn
13361877513
1st Floor, Building D, San Yin Ji Jin Yuan, No. 88 Shuanglian Road, Xujing Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
In the industrial field where powders and granular materials are widely used, material flowability detectors are quietly driving innovation in product quality and production efficiency by scientifically quantifying flow characteristics. In the pharmaceutical workshop, the stable operation of the tablet press depends on the consistency of the flow of the raw material powder; In food factories, the precise measurement of packaging machinery is based on the stable transportation of materials such as milk powder and sugar powder; In the field of new energy, the coating uniformity of lithium battery electrode materials is closely related to the flow behavior of the slurry. These seemingly unrelated questions all point to the same core parameter - material fluidity. As a professional measuring tool, the material flowability tester provides scientific basis for industrial production by accurately quantifying the flowability of materials such as powders and particles, and has become a powerful tool for quality control in modern manufacturing.
1、 The scientific basis of liquidity measurement
The essence of material fluidity is the dynamic balance between particle interactions and external forces. When materials flow, complex factors such as internal friction, adhesion, and surface tension collectively determine their flow behavior. The angle of repose is one of the most intuitive indicators for evaluating liquidity. When materials fall freely from a certain height and pile up into a cone shape, the angle between the inclined surface of the cone and the horizontal plane is called the angle of repose. The smaller the angle of repose, the better the flowability of the material. Compressibility and Hausner's ratio are important indicators for evaluating the consistency of powder flow. The degree of compression reflects the tendency of the volume change of the powder under pressure, while Hausner can predict the behavioral stability of the powder during storage and transportation by comparing the ratio of its initial density to its compacted density. For the evaluation of dynamic flow performance, shear testing can simulate the stress state of materials in silos and conveying pipelines. By drawing flow function curves, the flow behavior of materials under different pressures can be predicted, providing scientific basis for equipment design.
2、 Detection method and working principle
The material flowability tester adopts multiple standardized testing methods, each tailored to different application scenarios and accuracy requirements. The gravity outflow method uses a funnel of specific specifications to measure the time required for a certain volume of material to flow out. It is easy to operate and suitable for rapid detection on production lines. The rotational shear testing method has high accuracy and is suitable for scientific research and high demand industrial scenarios. It comprehensively characterizes the flow characteristics of materials by measuring their stress response at different shear rates. The drum method observes the dynamic behavior of materials during rolling by rotating transparent drum shaped containers, and is particularly suitable for studying particle segregation phenomena. Modern detectors integrate automated control systems and data analysis software, enabling one click testing, data storage, and report generation. The device is also equipped with image analysis technology, which captures the material flow process through a camera and automatically calculates parameters such as the angle of repose, greatly improving testing accuracy and repeatability.
3、 Full field coverage of industrial applications
In the pharmaceutical industry, the flowability of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients directly affects the uniformity of the tablet pressing process and the difference in tablet weight. By using a material flowability tester, pharmaceutical companies can optimize particle morphology and size distribution during the formulation design phase to ensure that the final product meets GMP requirements. In the food industry, the flowability of milk powder, sugar powder, seasonings, etc. is related to packaging speed and measurement accuracy. The detector helps manufacturers screen the best process parameters, solve problems such as agglomeration and bridging, and improve production efficiency. The demand for material fluidity is particularly prominent in the chemical industry. From plastic particles to battery materials, fluidity not only affects the stability of production processes, but also directly affects the consistency of the final product performance. By accurately measuring fluidity parameters, chemical companies can optimize raw material transportation and mixing processes. In the field of building materials, liquidity is related to the storage, transportation, and utilization efficiency of bulk powder materials. For example, the fluidity of cement affects its pneumatic conveying effect, while the fluidity of concrete directly determines the quality of pouring and forming.
4、 Key points of operation and maintenance
Proper sample preparation is a prerequisite for obtaining accurate test results. The sample should be representative and undergo appropriate preprocessing (such as crushing and screening) according to equipment requirements to ensure consistency in testing. Environmental conditions have a significant impact on liquidity testing. Temperature and humidity control are particularly important, and appropriate temperature and humidity conditions should be set according to the characteristics of the material before testing. For example, materials with strong moisture absorption need to be tested in low humidity environments to prevent moisture from affecting them. Regular cleaning and disinfection are key to ensuring the hygiene performance and accuracy of equipment. Especially for detectors used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, specialized cleaning agents need to be used for cleaning, and disinfection treatment should be carried out according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Equipment calibration is the core link in maintaining measurement accuracy. Regularly calibrating the material flowability tester can verify its accuracy and stability. When abnormal data or equipment failure occurs, professional personnel should be contacted in a timely manner for repair or replacement of components