Why Powder Caking Testing?
Caking results when particles agglomerate and form solid lumps or masses. Typically caking is undesirable, resulting in customer complaints, rejected product, and additional processing steps needed to delump the material.
Though caking commonly occurs with many packaged powders, it can also occur in poorly designed silos, hoppers, and other equipment that allows material stagnation. Preventing caking can be difficult if factors contributing to these problems are not well-understood.
Key factors affecting caking are intrinsic properties and environmental conditions.
Intrinsic properties
- Particle size, distribution and shape
- Moisture content and migration
- Chemical composition/impurities
- Particle hardness, surface chemistry
Environmental conditions
- Temperature (constant, cycle)
- Storage at rest
- Consolidating pressure
- Relative humidity
Knowing the caking behavior of your material under representative conditions will allow equipment designers to develop strategies for necessary process changes or storage and handling features that either solve or prevent costly powder caking problems.
Powder Caking Tests
The tests below can be run to determine the cause of powder caking, particle agglomeration, or clumping. Representative environmental conditions are important.
- Direct shear strength: effect of pressure, temperature, moisture, chemistry, particle size or shape, and time at rest
- Moisture sorption/desorption: effect of water vapor uptake (hygroscopicity)
- Morphology: observation of particle shape and size using microscope
- Surface energy: characterization of bulk solid’s surface
Test Results
The powder caking results are presented in a report which contains:
- overview of caking test method and complete results
- qualitative observations of unique caking behavior
- conclusions and recommendations to avoid powder caking
After completion of the caking tests, one of our engineers will review the report with you. We will answer questions you may have regarding our report, as well as discuss interpretation of the results. Common solutions for powder caking can involve storage vessel modifications, powder cooling or heating, and use of anti-caking flow agents.
Need to send samples for testing? Click here for additional information.
What’s Next
Contact us to review your specific powder caking needs with one of our experienced and knowledgeable engineers. After we have completed the caking tests, we can explore and analyze your process and provide solutions to reduce or eliminate the caking problems with our Caking and Moisture Migration Services
