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Lactose powder flowability enhancement by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment
Author(s) -
Wallimann Roger,
Roth Christian,
Rudolf von Rohr Philipp
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201800088
Subject(s) - materials science , agglomerate , nanoparticle , atmospheric pressure plasma , dielectric barrier discharge , atmospheric pressure , chemical engineering , lactose , van der waals force , plasma torch , volumetric flow rate , composite material , plasma , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , dielectric , chromatography , chemistry , organic chemistry , mechanics , molecule , meteorology , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , engineering
For the first time, an atmospheric‐pressure plasma process is presented that enables continuous flowability improvement of cohesive, temperature‐sensitive, and fine‐grained powder. For this, an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge operating with argon and oxygen is used to dissociate HMDSO and form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are directly deposited on the surface of cohesive lactose powder. These nanoparticles decrease the distance‐dependent attractive van der Waals forces in between the lactose particles and therefore, improve its flowability. Flow factor and powder surface are investigated using a ring‐shear tester and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. High flow factors are found when the total flow rate and HMDSO concentration trigger the formation of large nanoparticle quantities and agglomerates. Repeating the plasma process up to three times improves flowability from the cohesive regime to the easy flowing regime.