Pressing behaviour of spray dried alumina-zirconia granules

Abstract

In this study, spray drying of alumina-zirconia slurries on a pilot scale, and their pressing behaviour were investigated. Slurries were prepared at 50 wt-% solid loading. An acrylic polymer emulsion, polyethylene glycol, and stearic acid were used as a binder, plasticizer, and lubricant, respectively. Granules produced had a mean size of 85 mum with spherical morphology and smooth surfaces with considerably good flow behaviour. When polyethylene glycol was not used, granules were rather hard such that it was very difficult to break down the granule structure even at a pressure of 195 MPa.