Applications

Homogeneous Granulation of Powder Systems

Typical applications for Freeze Granulation are homogeneous granulation and drying of engineering (advanced, fine, high-performance) ceramic powders; oxides (alumina (Al₂O₃), zirconia (ZrO₂), silica (SiO₂)), nitrides (silicon nitride (Si₃N₄)) and carbides (SiC) and also granulation of powders of metal oxides, nanomaterials (nanopowders), diamonds (PCD/CBN inserts), explosives/pyrotechnicals (ignitors, delay elements) and drying of pharmaceuticals and drugs, and for drying of biomaterials like proteins, enzymes and fine chemicals.

- Freeze Granulation - for improved* granule properties compared with spray drying! (*Improved granule properties: Granules with no void formation, no migration of fine particles or binders, and no formation of hard dry shell).

• R&D-Labs working with powder processing: "Homogeneous granulation" - Homogeneous distribution of powder particles and binder mixtures for improved performance of the final products. Save time and money in lab-granulation (quick, no contamination, easy to clean) and last but not least - with Improved granule properties!
• Advanced ceramics and ceramic composites (Engineering ceramics): Homogeneous granulation of powder and binder mixtures.
• Ceramic electronic parts for ceramic capacitors with improved performance.
• Diamond tools (PCD/CBN inserts): Homogeneous powder-mixture/dispersion of diamond and ceramic particles with inorganic fillers and binders for improved cutting performance and tool life.
• Nanomaterials/Nanotechnology (Nanopowders): Freeze Granulation will give you a homogeneous distribution of the active component in different nanomaterials like nanocomposites with for example carbon nanotubes (fullerenes). It also offers you homogeneous mixtures of nano and micron powders and binders and it preserve the nano particle size in the granules also after drying - Only possible with Freeze Granulation! Nanopowders can be granulated and dried into a powder and then re-dispersed to nanopowders again avoiding agglomeration (aggregates) of nanoparticles, which is not possible with other granulation methods like spray drying.
• Cathodes for lithium ion batteries for improved performance and lower costs.
• Catalysts: Homogeneous distribution of the active material in the particles and binder mixtures for improved performance.
• Pharmaceuticals and drugs (Pharma industry): Improved solubility (re-disperse) and low-temperature drying of pharmaceuticals and drugs.
• Biotechnology (Biotech industry): Improved solubility (re-disperse) and low-temperature drying of biomaterials like proteins, enzymes and fine chemicals.
• Explosives/pyrotechnicals (Mining industry): Homogeneous powder-mixtures for improved properties (ignitors and delay elements in mining).
• Environmental and energy engineering: (Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies): Oxygen-carrier particles for chemical-looping combustion (CLC) have been manufactured by freeze granulation for improved environmental combustion of coal and fuel gases (syngas). Freeze granulation ensures homogenous distribution of the porosity and of the active material in the particles (ex NiO) and, hence, provides reliable performance. This advantageous characteristic can be extended for use in production of all kinds of catalytic particles for various processes.