Correlation between slurry properties and structures and properties of granules

Two types of granules were fabricated from a flocculated slurry (dispersant: 0.3 wt%) and a dispersed slurry (dispersant: 1.0 wt%), respectively. The slurry properties affected the packing density and morphology of the granules markedly; the granules obtained from the flocculated and dispersed slurries have spherical and dimpled shapes with densities 50.2 and 54.0%, respectively. A new crossed polarized microscopy showed a direct influence of slurry property on the packing structure of particles in the granules. The packing structure of particles affected the deformation behavior of granules; the loosely packed particles in the spherical granules make them easily deformable and the highly packed particles in the dimpled granules make them resistant against deformation.