The strength of agglomerates bound by salt bridges

Abstract
The correlation between the drying behavior and the tensile strength of agglomerates bound by salt bridges in the dry state was investigated. The pellets examined had been prepared by compacting limestone powders, which were premoistened with a salt solution, in a manually operated die press. The percentage liquid saturation of the moist agglomerate, the concentration of the salt solution and the drying temperature were altered.The influence of the surface incrustation on the drying process could be examined by measuring the temperatures within the cylindrical pellet at different radial positions during drying and by determining the drying rate curves. The tensile strength of the dried pellets, which was usually measured after removing the salt crust, depends on the quantity and the local distribution of the crystallized salt, and the strength of the salt bridges. The latter depends on the crystal structure which is influenced by the drying rate.