Technology

Freeze Granulation

In mid 70th W.W. Rhodes and S. Prochazka (1975) provided the first publications about freeze granulation of ceramic powders without defining the advantage or explaining the positive results.

Freeze granulation, spray freezing and subsequent freeze drying, a development of Spray Freeze Drying (SFD) and Spray Freezing into Liquid (SFL) was developed for granulation of ceramic powders at Swedish Ceramic Institute (SCI) in the late 1980s. It has been shown as the most suitable method to provide optimal granule properties for lab and research purposes and now also for pilote-scale and production of ceramics and other powder-based materials. During the 1990s, freeze granulation was successfully applied in material and processing developments within many research projects and commercial contract work. Specific powder systems from various companies were tested with very good results, homogeneous granulates resulting in improved final component properties. However, no commercial equipment was available and therefore PowderPro AB was founded in January 2000.

PowderPro AB supplies granulation equipments and carries out test granulations (standard concept), whereas Swerea IVF conducts slip and granulation development.

Several companies and research labs around the world have applied the freeze granulation process with the support of PowderPro AB. Typical applications for Freeze Granulation are homogeneous granulation and drying of ceramic powders; oxides (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, SiO₂), nitrides (Si₃N₄) and carbides (SiC) and also metal oxides, nanomaterials (nanopowders), diamonds, explosives (ignitors, delay elements) and pharmaceuticals like proteins, enzymes and chemicals.