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Chemical admixtures like superplasticisers or stabilising agents are of ever increasing importance for modern concrete technology. They liberate the workability of concrete from its dependency on water content, and thus, open the gate towards innovative and future oriented concrete technologies such as selfcompacting concrete. Meanwhile admixtures have become common practice in concrete technology, but the understanding of these highly complex polymers in the entire concrete system lags far behind their application. Due to its complex time-dependent, multi-phase and multi-scale behaviour, flowable concrete systems are highly complicated and cannot be described comprehensively by simple models. It is therefore extremely challenging to identify the relevant parameters that predominantly control flow phenomena on different size scales, since these may occur on any scale between the nano scale (e.g. superplasticizer adsorption) and macro scale (e.g. grading of the aggregates). The present study discusses fundamental mechanisms at the interface between particle or hydrate surfaces and the fluid phase at a very early stage of concrete formation, and links these effects to macroscopic flow phenomena. Methods are discussed that appear promising interdisciplinary tools for enhancement of the understanding of the relevant interactions that are responsible for the macroscopic flow of flowable concrete.
Increasing demand for alternatives to tungsten carbide (WC) cemented carbides as cutting tools, due to the health risks of their wear products WO3 and Co3O4. Niobium carbide (NbC) has a high potential, due to its high wear resitance, high hot hardness and melting point (3520°C), and low solubility in iron alloys.
The granules commonly yielded by spray drying procedures exhibit a hard shell and an irregular, dimpled shape, which is often described as donut-like morphology. Sintered parts produced from such granules suffer from microstructural defects and reduced mechanical properties resulting from these disadvantageous granule properties.
Using the example of alumina, zirconia and zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) batches, this paper shows that the morphology of the granules can be tuned by adjusting slurry stability. High zeta potential is essential to optimally disperse the particles. But to achieve spherical and soft granules the electrostatic repulsion forces between the particles should be reduced before spray granulation. Electrostatic repulsion forces were changed with the addition of nitric acid. Measurements of zeta potential and viscosity, as well as sedimentation investigations with an optical centrifuge were used for precise slurry assessment as a major precondition for optimal and reproducible adjustment of slurries before spray drying. Sedimentation analysis using an optical centrifuge was performed to investigate different influences like that of additive composition, solids content or pH-value on the sedimentation behavior. Adequately flocculated slurries lead to homogeneous, soft granules that can be easily deformed and pressed. The fraction of donut-shaped particles and the rigidity of granules were reduced. Consequently, the sintered parts produced from these granulates show improvements regarding porosity, pore size distribution, sintered density and biaxial strength.
The influence of the atomization technique on the suitability of granules for dry pressing is the focus of the presented investigations. Therefore, destabilized alumina, zirconia, and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) slurries were spray dried and the obtained granules were used to fabricate green and finally sintered bodies for evaluation.
Granules made in a laboratory spray dryer with a two-fluid nozzle served as a reference. An ultrasonic atomizer was integrated into the same spray dryer and the influence on the granule properties was evaluated. Untapped bulk density, granule size distribution, and flowability are among the evaluated granule-related properties as well as the granule yield which is used as an indicator of the process efficiency.
Yield and flowability as most important granule properties are clearly improved when atomization is realized with ultrasound. The investigated sinter body properties include porosity, sinter body density, and biaxial strength and are as well positively affected by switching the atomization technique to ultrasound. Therefore, the Approach to improve the compressibility of granules by ultrasonic atomization, which leads to an improved microstructure, density, and strength of sintered bodies, has proven to be successful for single-component ceramics (alumina and zirconia) as well as for the multicomponent ceramic ZTA.
Economic industrial spray drying of ceramic slurries aims for as high as possible solids content. Investigated slurries of up to 80 wt% solids content were analyzed regarding stability while staying processable for granule production via spray drying.
Preliminary stability examinations were carried out on the one hand via zeta potential measurements and on the other hand by optical centrifuge analysis for determination of suitable additive type, quantity and composition while even allowing the detection of potential side effects. The processability of the slurry for spraying has primarily been quantified by viscosity measurements.
Early spray dried granules turned out to have internal voids and/or hard shells leading to defective sinter bodies and low density. Focusing on the root of these voids, the “hollow hard granules”, a controlled destabilization and flocculation was initiated by weakening electrostatic repulsion and approaching the isoelectric point. Destabilization, quantifiable by optical centrifugation, leaded to a change in speed of clarification as well as packing density, influencing movement speed of the phase boundary and the final height of the sediment, respectively. For sufficient destabilization, the solids content needed to be reduced in order to keep the viscosity suitable for the following spray drying procedure.
The versatile controlled destabilization of the ceramic slurry finally leaded to a significantly reduced fraction of hollow granules featuring a sinter body of higher density with smaller pores and a narrower pore size distribution, additionally this destabilization approach has shown to be transferrable with excellent results to zirconia and even ZTA (zirconia toughened alumina) composite materials.
Dry pressing of ceramic materials requires homogeneously soft granules with good flowability to allow rapid die filling and to avoid packing defects. Spray-drying granulation appears to be the best method for obtaining granules with high flowability in industrial scale. But, strength reducing internal microstructural defects caused by spray-dried granules with hollow and hard shells are often observed using nano and/or multi-component starting powders.
Using the example of a ZTA composite, the potential of slurry optimization, ultrasound atomization and infrared drying for better granule properties and compaction behavior were investigated. Starting granules produced in a conventional spray dryer (Niro, Denmark) with a two fluid nozzle showed typical defects like large central pores and dimples.
The early step of slurry preparation already possesses an essential optimization possibility in the form of stability adjustments. Granule compaction was clearly improved upon a specific reduction in slurry stability. The second optimization opportunity to improve the granule quality was the atomization step. Implementation of an ultrasound atomizing unit into the conventional spray dryer positively affected granule size distribution and therefor flowability and as well granule yield. But, a combination of both process optimizations delivered the best sinter bodies with highest density and strength due to further reduction in maximum size and fraction of pores.
As last step of a spray drying process, the drying is the focus of further investigations. A current setup implying a spray dryer prototype utilizes stacked infrared heater in a countercurrent setup delivering a further increase in granule yield and enduring spraying process stability.
Homogeneous introduction of organic additives is a key of ceramic powder processing. Addition of organics to ceramic slurries holds advantages compared to dry processing like organic content reduction and a more homogeneous additive distribution on the particle surface.
Investigations of the alumina slurries were primarily based on zeta potential measurements and sedimentation analysis by optical centrifugation. Both methods were combined to determine a suitable additive type, amount and composition, whereas the spray drying suitability has been ensured by viscosity measurements. Granules, yielded by spray drying of such ideally dispersed alumina slurries, are mostly hollow and possess a hard shell. Those granules cannot easily be processed and can only hardly be destroyed in the following shaping step, leading to sinter bodies with many defects and poor strength and density.
The precise slurry destabilization, carried out after ideally dispersing the ceramic powder, shows a strong influence on the drying behavior of the granules and hence on the granule properties. A promising degree of destabilization and partial flocculation was quantified by optical centrifugation and resulted in improved granule properties. Spray drying the destabilized alumina slurries yielded homogeneous “non-hollow” granules without the above mentioned hard shell. Sample bodies produced of these granules exhibited a reduction of defect size and number, leading to better results for sinter body density and strength.
The positive effect of the slurry destabilization has been further improved, by exchanging the atomizing unit from a two-fluid one to an ultrasound atomizer with only minor slurry adjustments necessary. The controlled destabilization and ultrasound atomization of the ceramic slurry show excellent transferability for zirconia and even ZTA (zirconia toughened alumina) composite materials.
Advanced spray drying process by controlled slurry destabilization and ultrasonic atomization
(2017)
Spray drying of ceramic slurries aims for soft and free-flowing granules with homogenous microstructure suitable for uniaxial and isostatic pressing. A stable and continuous spray drying process of slurries with maximized solids content is a further development target, since a reduction of the energy intensive drying procedure is desirable.
First part of the investigation focuses on the development of an appropriate zirconia slurry for spray drying with optimized organic additive contents (dispersant + binder + pressing and lubricating agents). Characterization and improvement of slurries are based on zeta potential measurements and investigations of the sedimentation behavior in an optical centrifuge. Therefor the slurries were spray dried with a conventional spray dryer with a two stream nozzle run in fountain mode. The controlled destabilization of the slurries was introduced, since the unwanted formation of hard granules with donut-like shape could be circumvented. Spray drying of such modified slurries resulted in soft granules without voids and finally leaded to sintered bodies with improved microstructure, density and bending strength.
Expectedly, the destabilization process causes a significant increase in viscosity of the ceramic slurry. Hence, an alternative spraying concept utilizing an ultrasonic nozzle was tested. Indeed, the ultrasonic nozzle seems able to atomize slurries with viscosities beyond the capability of the regular two stream nozzles due to the slurry’s shear thinning behavior. In second part of the investigation the integration of the ultrasonic nozzle in a commercial spray dryer is shown and first results of the spraying tests are discussed. Continuous spraying processes of highly viscous alumina, zirconia and ZTA slurries were realized over an extended production period.
Spray drying based granulation processes aim for flowable granules neither containing voids nor hard shells thus leading to a homogenous microstructure in the green and sinter bodies without strength reducing large pores. The increase of the specific surface area due to the utilization of finer powders as raw materials makes the production of granules of demanded quality more sophisticated. Innovations regarding additives as well as process engineering are therefore required.
While conventional spray granulation processes of ceramic materials are based on rotational, one stream or two stream nozzles for nebulization, the investigations in the ZIM project concentrate on the applicability of an ultra sound atomizer unit. A spray dryer comprised of the aforementioned ultra sound atomization unit implemented in a commercial spray dryer (Niro, Denmark) was used as test system. Potential advantages of the ultra sound nebulization are investigated for model systems of alumina, zirconia and a ZTA composite while focusing on solids content, yield, pressability and granule properties (size, size distribution, flowability, shape and microstructure) as well as the final sinter body properties (density, microstructure and flexural strength).
First ultra sound spray drying experiments yielded granules with excellent processability. Spray drying of identical slurries, as before tested and optimized for a two stream nozzle atomization process, resulted in a more suitable size distribution for dry pressing (less particles below 20 µm) and a higher yield. Furthermore, sinter bodies produced of ultra sound granules seem to have less large pores and a more homogenous microstructure
Limits of computer tomography aided characterization of different types of porous ceramic materials
(2021)
Ceramics with open porosity are attractive materials in many fields of applications covering medicine, catalysis, and filtration. Manifold technologies to produce porous ceramics are available, e.g. foaming and replica processes, resulting in various microstructures. Development and manufacturing of new materials is accelerating, while crucial characterization is becoming increasingly difficult and conventional measurements lack the desired speed. Computed tomography (CT) offers the possibility to three-dimensionally characterize entire samples with minimal sample preparation, while its main advantage is that it is non-destructive. Still, the assessment of quantitative results from CT measurements is not trivial.
The poster presents CT characterizations of newly developed as well as commercially available openly porous ceramic samples. Properties such as porosity, permeability or pore characteristics were measured conventionally and compared to results calculated from CT-measurements using the commercial software VG StudioMax.
The determined differences between measured and calculated values are presented and application areas as well as limits of the CT characterization are evaluated.