Processing trends: An introduction to powder modification technology
One of the latest trends in powder processing technology is the development of equipment that modifies very fine powder by embedding a film or coating on it or fusing it to another powder. Two types of equipment are available: the Hybridizer, made by Bepex Corporation, Minneapolis, and the Mechanofusion® system, made by Hosokawa Micron Division, Hosokawa Micron International, Summit, NJ. This article describes each type of equipment, how it operates, and how it's applied.
Powders today are becoming finer and purer, with very narrow sue distributions. The high surface area of these very fine powders and their resulting enhanced activity or reactivity enables them to meet the strict process requirements of several products, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, foods, paints, dyes, ink, ceramics, and powdered metals. Very fine powders also produce better end products and, in the case of some trace ingredients, achieve the desired results using smaller quantities than is possible with coarser powders. Very fine powders also have helped make advanced materials for the aerospace, transportation, electronics, and health care industries.