Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS)

DoITPoMS Teaching & Learning Packages Powder processing Questions
Powder processing AimsBefore you startIntroductionPowder particles in a fluid streamParticle size measurement by light scatteringParticle impact on substratesCase study - thermal sprayingPassage of particles through filterDiesel particulate filtersPowder consolidation by cold pressing and sinteringSummaryQuestionsGoing further
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Questions

Quick questions

You should be able to answer these questions without too much difficulty after studying this TLP. If not, then you should go through it again!

  1. The Reynolds number is a measure of:

    a The ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, and hence of the tendency for fluids to flow faster.
    b The ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, and hence of the tendency for fluids to flow more slowly.
    c The ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, and hence of the tendency for fluid flow to become chaotic.
    d The ratio of the speed of a fluid to its dynamic viscosity, and hence of the tendency for fluid flow to become chaotic.

  2. The terminal velocity of a particle falling under gravity in a fluid is:

    a Proportional to the square of its size.
    b Independent of its shape.
    c Independent of the fluid viscosity.
    d Independent of temperature.

  3. The Stokes number is a measure of:

    a The ratio of the velocity of a particle in a fluid to the velocity of an obstacle in its path, and hence of the likelihood of it striking the obstacle.
    b The ratio of the velocity at which a particle in a fluid is approaching an obstacle, to its terminal velocity in the fluid, and hence of the likelihood of it striking the obstacle.
    c The ratio of the inertial force acting on a particle moving towards an obstacle, to the drag force exerted by the fluid, and hence of the likelihood of it striking the obstacle.
    d The time needed for a particle to change its direction of motion, relative to that involved in passing an obstacle in its path, and hence of the likelihood of it striking the obstacle.

  4. The (specific) permeability of a porous medium is:

    a The proportionality constant relating the flux of a fluid through the medium to the pressure gradient divided by the fluid viscosity.
    b Directly proportional to its porosity.
    c The proportionality constant relating the average velocity of a fluid flowing through the medium to the pressure gradient divided by the fluid viscosity.
    d Independent of the specific surface area of the medium.

  5. The sintering process that leads to a relatively loose assembly of powder particles being transformed into a material with acceptable strength and stiffness:

    a Always involves removal of most or all of the porosity.
    b Requires the application of imposed pressure at high temperature.
    c Is driven by reduction of the surface area within the powder assembly.
    d Involves flow of a liquid and/or chemical reactions.

Deeper questions

The following questions require some thought and reaching the answer may require you to think beyond the contents of this TLP.

  1. It is proposed that a new type of Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), with a very high efficiency for extracting fine carbon particles, could be made by creating a bonded assembly of fine alumina fibres (diameter ~0.1 μm).  Use the Carman-Kozeny equation to estimate the expected permeability of such a material, assuming that it will be 80% porous.  If the maximum gas flux through the DPF is 500 m3 hr-1, its surface area is ~1 m2 and its wall thickness is ~1 mm, estimate the pressure drop across it and comment on whether this value is likely to be acceptable for satisfactory operation of the engine.  [The viscosity of the exhaust gas at the temperature concerned is about 3 10-5 Pa s.]

  2. It is proposed that thermal spraying will be used to create an alumina (MPt. ~2040˚C) coating on a metal artefact, using a combustion torch with a flame temperature of 2300˚C.  The alumina powder to be used has an average particle size of about 20 µm and the heat capacity of alumina c, is ~3 106 J m-3 K-1.  The stand-off distance to be used is 400 mm and the gas velocity is 200 m s-1.  The interfacial heat transfer coefficient under these conditions is estimated to be 10 kW m-2 s-1.  Assuming that injected particles reach the gas velocity very quickly, estimate their temperature at impact and hence decide whether the spraying process is likely to be successful.

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