ABSTRACT
Granulation, mixing, and packing of particles are important operations in ceramic processing that have a strong influence on the subsequent forming and sintering steps. Spray drying is the most common method to prepare granules for use in die pressing. This chapter discusses key factors that should be controlled to produce spray-dried granules with optimal characteristics. Homogeneous mixing of the components is the commonly desired goal of the mixing step. The quality of mixing depends on the differences in properties between the powders and on the mixer. Mixtures in ceramic processing cover a wide range. Homogeneous particle packing and high packing density are the common processing goals for ceramic green articles. The packing density of particles with a narrow size distribution can be improved by using mixtures of particles in which a specific portion of finer particles pack in the interstices of the coarser particles or by using a continuous particle size distribution.
