title: Use of a static eliminator to improve powder flow.
abstract: Glidants and lubricants have long been used to improve the flow and processing of pharmaceutical and other powder blends. In this letter, we find that similar improvements can be attained, without additives, by using a simple static eliminator. These results indicate, first, that electrostatic effects on powder blends may be a significant cause of powder aggregation and flow instabilities, and second, that common additives such as magnesium stearate, colloidal silica, and talc may have as their chief effect the reduction of static. This suggests both that intelligent placement of static eliminators can eliminate the need for some of these additives and that judicious engineering of ionic and cationic additives may be effective in improving flow of "clingy" materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
authors.forename: Kalyana C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pingali
authors.forename: Stephen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Fernando J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Muzzio
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinbrot
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation; D003102:Colloids; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013627:Talc / Q000737:chemistry; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D005079:Excipients; D011208:Powders; D013229:Stearic Acids; D013627:Talc; C031183:stearic acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide