International Fine Particles Research Institute

IFPRI Research Topics

• Objectives

• To develop opportunities in particle characterisation, instrumentation and measurement for in and on line applications in addition to development and application of theory and diagnostics giving a better understanding of particle behaviour

• Area Chair: Paul Mort
• Area Co-Chair: Dean Ilievski
• Link to Ifpri Publications: Characterisation Publications

• Objectives

• To understand better the fundamentals underlying particle formation science and technology to improve design and control of processes yielding predictable particle size, shape and other product characteristics
  
  Links
  The current programme has been focussed on liquid phase crystallisation processes.

  A major contribution to the fundamentals of particle formation in the gas phase was made by Rick Flagans group at CalTech.  Two papers in the public domain are quoted below.

• Area Chair: Judith Bonsall
• Area Co-Chair: Pieter Vonk
• Link to Ifpri Publications: Particle Formation Publications
• Notable Ifpri Research :
  • Rogak, S N; Flagan, R C; Nguyen, H Y The Mobility and Structure of Aerosol Agglomerates Aerosol Science and Technology, 18 (1): 25-47 Jan 1993
  • Rogak, S N; Baltensperger, U; Flagan, R C Measurement of Mass-transfer to Agglomerate Aerosols Aerosol Science and Technology, 14 (4): 447-458 1991

• Objectives

• To relate breakage in well defined experimental situations to particle properties and the
  formation process and to breakage in industrial systems. To simulate particle breakage
  
  •    to improve our understanding and control of breakage phenomena
  •    to define suitable methods for characterisation of breakage propensities
  •    to translate practical situations (processes), possibly invoking modelling, to quantitative characterisation methods and vice versa
  •    to define practical guidelines, operating practices, predictive and control models for breakage processes
  •    to build quantitative relationships between material properties, process conditions, and resulting wanted/undesired breakage behaviour
  •    to be able to substitute material names by relevant properties
  •    to identify and quantify assembly vs single particle effects, both in granular assemblies and in granules or agglomerates
  •    to quantify effects of structure and composition on particle breakage
  •    to decompose/distinguish and quantify separately effects of shear, impact and compression on breakage
  
  Reference the recent handbook on Breakage (Elsevier) and the many papers originating from IFPRI work

• Area Chair: Renee Boerefijn
• Area Co-Chair: Christian Artelt
• Link to Ifpri Publications: Size Reduction Publications
• Notable Ifpri Research :
  • Single Particle Impact Experiments by Ghadiri

Powder Flow

• Objectives

• To understand the principles of powder flow across the regimes of granular flow, dense phase conveying and rapid dispersed shear flow to attain reliable prediction and simulation capabilities.

   In the last few years IFPRI convened a Workshop and subsequent an expert panel to develop a forward strategy in the Powder Flow area.  NSF has accepted the roadmap that was developed both as a guidance for submission for proposals in this area but also as criteria for acceptance.
  IFPRI funds specific parts of the strategic programme

• Area Chair: Terry Semeraz
• Area Co-Chair: Craig Bentham
• Link to Ifpri Publications: Powder Flow Publications
• Notable Ifpri Research :
  • Powder Flow Roadmap

• Objectives

• To understand and predict the effect of chemistry and structure on suspension rheology and determine the fundamentals controlling the dynamics of drying and dispersion and their influence product properties

• Area Chair: Rajeev Gorowara
• Area Co-Chair: Manfred Dannehl
• Link to Ifpri Publications: Wet Systems Publications
• Notable Ifpri Research :
  • Links IFPRI review of 25 years of suspension rheology by Brian Barnes