Agglomeration of powders with a new-coupled vibration-compaction device

Abstract

Inorganic powder recycling should be a crucial process for the “smart factories” in the future. A complex three-phase system (bauxite mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water) with a new-coupled vibration-compaction device is studied. The compressive stress of compacts seems to be improved by using this device at low compaction pressure leaving the other characteristics unchanged. The tomographic study of macroscopic porosities shows differences in the pores repartitions inside vibrated and untreated compacts. Classic porosity repartition is shown in the classic compacted bauxite compacts whereas in the vibrated-compacted bauxite exhibits inhomogeneities. Despite this, we find these results quite promising for further investigations.