Numerical modelling of breakage and adhesion of loose fine-particle agglomerates

In this study, discrete element method (DEM) simulations are used to examine the breakage and capturing behaviour of loose fine-particle agglomerates on impact with a target particle. The model system is an agglomerate composed of 5 µm fine particles and a 200 µm target particle. The cohesion between fine particles was modelled using the Johnson, Kendall and Roberts (JKR) theory. In contrast to the breakage of hard agglomerates which break in large fragments, as commonly investigated, loose agglomerates break in finer fragments. Impact velocity was found to be a significant parameter not only for the adhesion strength but also for the structure of the particles captured on the target. The capture ratio of the agglomerate as well as the thickness of the particle layer covering the target decreases with increasing impact velocity. High impact velocity results in finer fragments attached to the target with greater tensile strength due to the re-structuring mechanism that occurs during impact. Accordingly, impact velocity is one of the critical parameters governing the structure resulting after collision. However, the effect of material properties, e.g. surface energy, material hardness and plasticity, on adhesion behaviour should be investigated to obtain a full picture of the breakage-adhesion regime map.